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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/environment/live/2017/jun/01/donald-trump-paris-climate-agreement-live-news
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| Paris climate agreement: world reacts as Trump pulls out of global accord – live | Paris climate agreement: world reacts as Trump pulls out of global accord – live |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 1.06am BST | |
| 01:06 | |
| Mexico has stated its “unconditional support for the Paris accord,” saying it “will continue to meet its established goals” for reducing carbon emissions, the AP reports. | |
| The nation’s foreign relations department said in a statement: | |
| Efforts to slow climate change are a moral imperative, because we owe it to future generations.” | |
| Mexican president Enrique Pena Nieto reiterated his commitment on Twitter: | |
| México mantiene su respaldo y compromiso con el Acuerdo de París para detener los efectos del cambio climático global. | |
| 12.57am BST | |
| 00:57 | |
| The view from New Zealand | |
| Eleanor Ainge Roy | |
| Protests are planned in New Zealand where US secretary of state Rex Tillerson has a Wellington visit scheduled next Tuesday. Niamh O’Flynn, executive director of 350 Aotearoa, a climate change group, said: | |
| Trump is out of step with the rest of the world, and we need to make sure he feels that when his Secretary of State lands in Wellington on Tuesday. People and governments around the world are backing the US into a corner where they the lonely outlier. [Prime minister] Bill English must denounce this move to show whose side we’re on.” | |
| Opposition leader Andrew Little said in a statement: | |
| We can’t now let the USA water down the Paris Accord. Mr Tillerson must be reminded that the world can only combat climate change together and that New Zealand stands shoulder-to-shoulder with other nations which have embraced the challenge. | |
| 12.45am BST | |
| 00:45 | |
| Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner were not at Trump’s announcement, because, according to a White House official, the couple was attending a service at synagogue. | |
| Ivanka had met with Al Gore last year, sparking rumors that the president’s daughter, could influence her father on climate change, women’s health and other issues. Some hoped she would encourage the White House not to abandon the Paris agreement. | |
| Politico is now reporting that Ivanka seems to have “lost” on the Paris accord, but that she and Kushner, a senior advisor, “have taken the defeat in stride”: | |
| After she organized five weeks of meetings focused on the Paris agreement — including her own sit-down with EPA administrator Scott Pruitt and enlisting people like Apple CEO Tim Cook to speak to the president about climate — Ivanka Trump appeared to have lost on one of the issues where she at one point expected to hold some sway. | |
| 12.31am BST | 12.31am BST |
| 00:31 | 00:31 |
| Protests across the US | Protests across the US |
| Scenes of protests across the country this afternoon: | Scenes of protests across the country this afternoon: |
| DNC chair @TomPerez leads chants of "shame" at climate protest outside the White House pic.twitter.com/9xr2b84AuL | DNC chair @TomPerez leads chants of "shame" at climate protest outside the White House pic.twitter.com/9xr2b84AuL |
| #Miami climate activists turn out today to protest Trump's break from #ParisAgreement at Museum Park @jerryiannelli @MiamiNewTimes pic.twitter.com/9zBVgrlXm9 | #Miami climate activists turn out today to protest Trump's break from #ParisAgreement at Museum Park @jerryiannelli @MiamiNewTimes pic.twitter.com/9zBVgrlXm9 |
| Happening now: 400+ protesters gather near NYC City Hall to protest Pres. Trump abandoning Paris climate accord pic.twitter.com/OhlsuQEj0D | Happening now: 400+ protesters gather near NYC City Hall to protest Pres. Trump abandoning Paris climate accord pic.twitter.com/OhlsuQEj0D |
| Protests erupt outside Trump Tower after @POTUS pulls U.S. out of #ParisAgreement https://t.co/RzNDLSOkGi pic.twitter.com/GE7PZrq1yt | Protests erupt outside Trump Tower after @POTUS pulls U.S. out of #ParisAgreement https://t.co/RzNDLSOkGi pic.twitter.com/GE7PZrq1yt |
| 12.21am BST | 12.21am BST |
| 00:21 | 00:21 |
| Former president Bill Clinton has offered his criticism of the president’s decision: | Former president Bill Clinton has offered his criticism of the president’s decision: |
| Walking away from Paris treaty is a mistake. Climate change is real. We owe our children more. Protecting our future also creates more jobs. | Walking away from Paris treaty is a mistake. Climate change is real. We owe our children more. Protecting our future also creates more jobs. |
| Earlier, Hillary Clinton slammed the possible exit from the agreement, calling it “incredibly foolish” and “really stupid”, adding: | Earlier, Hillary Clinton slammed the possible exit from the agreement, calling it “incredibly foolish” and “really stupid”, adding: |
| The president is a very impulsive, reactive personality. So, if we all like the Paris agreement, he may decide to get out of it, not even understanding one bit about what that means. | The president is a very impulsive, reactive personality. So, if we all like the Paris agreement, he may decide to get out of it, not even understanding one bit about what that means. |
| 12.14am BST | 12.14am BST |
| 00:14 | 00:14 |
| Tesla CEO Elon Musk is not the only executive to step down from Trump’s council following the Paris Agreement withdrawal. Robert Iger, CEO of Disney, has also just announced his resignation “as a matter of principle”: | Tesla CEO Elon Musk is not the only executive to step down from Trump’s council following the Paris Agreement withdrawal. Robert Iger, CEO of Disney, has also just announced his resignation “as a matter of principle”: |
| As a matter of principle, I've resigned from the President's Council over the #ParisAgreement withdrawal. | As a matter of principle, I've resigned from the President's Council over the #ParisAgreement withdrawal. |
| Earlier in the day, General Motors CEO Mary Barra said she would remain on Trump’s strategy and policy forum, saying the group “provides GM a seat at an important table to contribute to a constructive dialogue about key policy issues”. | Earlier in the day, General Motors CEO Mary Barra said she would remain on Trump’s strategy and policy forum, saying the group “provides GM a seat at an important table to contribute to a constructive dialogue about key policy issues”. |
| 12.05am BST | 12.05am BST |
| 00:05 | 00:05 |
| The White House in a new statement says Trump had “frank, substantive discussions” about the Paris agreement with the leaders of Germany, France, Canada and Britain. | The White House in a new statement says Trump had “frank, substantive discussions” about the Paris agreement with the leaders of Germany, France, Canada and Britain. |
| The president also promised that during his administration, the US “will be the cleanest and most environmentally friendly country on Earth”, adding that the world leaders “all agreed to continue dialogue and strengthen cooperation on environmental and other issues going forward”. | The president also promised that during his administration, the US “will be the cleanest and most environmentally friendly country on Earth”, adding that the world leaders “all agreed to continue dialogue and strengthen cooperation on environmental and other issues going forward”. |
| "the United States under the Trump Administration, will be the cleanest and most environmentally friendly country on Earth" pic.twitter.com/khrDUaHrMA | "the United States under the Trump Administration, will be the cleanest and most environmentally friendly country on Earth" pic.twitter.com/khrDUaHrMA |
| Read more on the reactions from world leaders here. | Read more on the reactions from world leaders here. |
| 11.54pm BST | 11.54pm BST |
| 23:54 | 23:54 |
| The central message from Emmanuel Macron, in large capital letters: | The central message from Emmanuel Macron, in large capital letters: |
| pic.twitter.com/3g5LYO9Osj | pic.twitter.com/3g5LYO9Osj |
| 11.49pm BST | 11.49pm BST |
| 23:49 | 23:49 |
| Fact checking White House claims | Fact checking White House claims |
| The AP has released some helpful fact checks of Trump’s case for withdrawing the US from the climate agreement, noting that some of his claims are “shaky”: | The AP has released some helpful fact checks of Trump’s case for withdrawing the US from the climate agreement, noting that some of his claims are “shaky”: |
| For one, the White House cites a study paid for by groups that profit from fossil fuels. | For one, the White House cites a study paid for by groups that profit from fossil fuels. |
| Trump also claims 1m jobs have been created since the election. That’s basically right, but he earns no credit for jobs created in the months before he became president. | Trump also claims 1m jobs have been created since the election. That’s basically right, but he earns no credit for jobs created in the months before he became president. |
| The White House cited a study by NERA Consulting, claiming that meeting the Obama administration’s requirements in the Paris agreement would cost the US economy nearly $3tn over several decades. The US Chamber of Commerce and the American Council for Capital Formation paid for the research, according to the AP. Both groups have financial ties to people who profit from the burning of fossil fuels. | The White House cited a study by NERA Consulting, claiming that meeting the Obama administration’s requirements in the Paris agreement would cost the US economy nearly $3tn over several decades. The US Chamber of Commerce and the American Council for Capital Formation paid for the research, according to the AP. Both groups have financial ties to people who profit from the burning of fossil fuels. |
| The AP also noted that the president’s citation of a Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) study was questionable. The White House claimed that the research found that if all member nations met their obligations, the climate impact would be negligible, but the MIT author said the administration is citing an outdated version and was taking the information out of context. | The AP also noted that the president’s citation of a Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) study was questionable. The White House claimed that the research found that if all member nations met their obligations, the climate impact would be negligible, but the MIT author said the administration is citing an outdated version and was taking the information out of context. |
| 11.28pm BST | 11.28pm BST |
| 23:28 | 23:28 |
| Governors announce 'climate alliance' | Governors announce 'climate alliance' |
| The Democratic governors of New York, California and Washington have announced a new US Climate Alliance, billed as a “coalition that will convene US states committed to upholding the Paris Climate Agreement and taking aggressive action on climate change”. | The Democratic governors of New York, California and Washington have announced a new US Climate Alliance, billed as a “coalition that will convene US states committed to upholding the Paris Climate Agreement and taking aggressive action on climate change”. |
| Proud to join @NYGovCuomo & @GovInslee in new U.S. Climate Alliance, a profoundly important endeavor #ActOnClimate https://t.co/zQIeDwgyY1 pic.twitter.com/gEB6P2bsyz | Proud to join @NYGovCuomo & @GovInslee in new U.S. Climate Alliance, a profoundly important endeavor #ActOnClimate https://t.co/zQIeDwgyY1 pic.twitter.com/gEB6P2bsyz |
| The three states combined represent more than one-fifth of the US gross domestic product, roughly 68m people and at least 10% of the country’s greenhouse gas emissions. Officials said they are committed to achieving the US goal of reducing emissions by 26-28% of 2005 levels. | The three states combined represent more than one-fifth of the US gross domestic product, roughly 68m people and at least 10% of the country’s greenhouse gas emissions. Officials said they are committed to achieving the US goal of reducing emissions by 26-28% of 2005 levels. |
| Jerry Brown, governor of California, which has positioned itself as a leader in fighting climate change, said: | Jerry Brown, governor of California, which has positioned itself as a leader in fighting climate change, said: |
| If the President is going to be AWOL in this profoundly important human endeavor, then California and other states will step up.” | If the President is going to be AWOL in this profoundly important human endeavor, then California and other states will step up.” |
| 11.14pm BST | 11.14pm BST |
| 23:14 | 23:14 |
| Sam Levin in San Francisco on the blog now, taking over for Tom McCarthy. | Sam Levin in San Francisco on the blog now, taking over for Tom McCarthy. |
| Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, who insists he is not running for president, despite persistent rumors, has offered his criticisms of Trump’s announcement: | Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, who insists he is not running for president, despite persistent rumors, has offered his criticisms of Trump’s announcement: |
| Withdrawing from the Paris climate agreement is bad for the environment, bad for the economy, and it puts our children’s future at risk. | Withdrawing from the Paris climate agreement is bad for the environment, bad for the economy, and it puts our children’s future at risk. |
| For our part, we’ve committed that every new data center we build will be powered by 100% renewable energy. | For our part, we’ve committed that every new data center we build will be powered by 100% renewable energy. |
| Stopping climate change is something we can only do as a global community, and we have to act together before it’s too late. | Stopping climate change is something we can only do as a global community, and we have to act together before it’s too late. |
| 11.02pm BST | 11.02pm BST |
| 23:02 | 23:02 |
| Macron: Trump made a 'mistake' | Macron: Trump made a 'mistake' |
| Here’s Macron, speaking in English. | Here’s Macron, speaking in English. |
| “I do respect this decision, but I do think it is an actual mistake both for the US and for our planet. I just said President Trump in a few words a few minutes ago this assessment. | “I do respect this decision, but I do think it is an actual mistake both for the US and for our planet. I just said President Trump in a few words a few minutes ago this assessment. |
| “Tonight I wish to tell the United States, France believes in you. The world believes in you...” | “Tonight I wish to tell the United States, France believes in you. The world believes in you...” |
| Statement on the US' withdrawal from the Paris climate agreements. #parisagreementhttps://t.co/T4XOjWZW0Q | Statement on the US' withdrawal from the Paris climate agreements. #parisagreementhttps://t.co/T4XOjWZW0Q |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 11.06pm BST | at 11.06pm BST |
| 10.45pm BST | 10.45pm BST |
| 22:45 | 22:45 |
| The view from Australia | The view from Australia |
| Gabrielle Chan | Gabrielle Chan |
| The Turnbull government has recommitted to Australia’s emissions targets in the Paris Agreement after Donald Trump’s withdrawal but faces internal division as conservative MPs celebrated the decision. | The Turnbull government has recommitted to Australia’s emissions targets in the Paris Agreement after Donald Trump’s withdrawal but faces internal division as conservative MPs celebrated the decision. |
| Energy and environment minister Josh Frydenberg said he was disappointed with Trump’s decision but reiterated the Turnbull government’s full commitment to the Paris Accord. | Energy and environment minister Josh Frydenberg said he was disappointed with Trump’s decision but reiterated the Turnbull government’s full commitment to the Paris Accord. |
| “We reiterate our full commitment to the Paris Accord,” Frydenberg told the ABC. “We believe that the targets we agreed to, the 26% to 28% reduction in emissions by 2030 on 2005 levels are reasonable, are achievable. | “We reiterate our full commitment to the Paris Accord,” Frydenberg told the ABC. “We believe that the targets we agreed to, the 26% to 28% reduction in emissions by 2030 on 2005 levels are reasonable, are achievable. |
| “I do believe that it is still a very meaningful agreement. You have more than 190 countries that signed on and in record time, 146 countries have ratified. So even without the US, around 70% of the world’s emissions are covered by that agreement.” | “I do believe that it is still a very meaningful agreement. You have more than 190 countries that signed on and in record time, 146 countries have ratified. So even without the US, around 70% of the world’s emissions are covered by that agreement.” |
| But Liberal MP and chair of the backbench environment committee, Craig Kelly, who was at the forefront of the campaign which forced Frydenberg to rule out any form of carbon trading, had “champagne on ice” waiting for the US withdrawal. | But Liberal MP and chair of the backbench environment committee, Craig Kelly, who was at the forefront of the campaign which forced Frydenberg to rule out any form of carbon trading, had “champagne on ice” waiting for the US withdrawal. |
| Early on Friday morning, he posted “THEY’RE OUT”, welcoming the decision with a video of Whitney Houston singing the Star Spangled Banner. | Early on Friday morning, he posted “THEY’RE OUT”, welcoming the decision with a video of Whitney Houston singing the Star Spangled Banner. |
| “There is a more efficient way to generate energy than using fossil fuels, it’s just that mankind hasn’t yet worked it out,” Kelly said. | “There is a more efficient way to generate energy than using fossil fuels, it’s just that mankind hasn’t yet worked it out,” Kelly said. |
| “But if our history tells us anything, we are more likely to discover that new technology by combining free market capitalism with the wealth created by fossil fuels - than we are through central planning and government imposed regulations that destroy wealth.” | “But if our history tells us anything, we are more likely to discover that new technology by combining free market capitalism with the wealth created by fossil fuels - than we are through central planning and government imposed regulations that destroy wealth.” |
| 10.21pm BST | 10.21pm BST |
| 22:21 | 22:21 |
| Kate Connolly | Kate Connolly |
| Angela Merkel called Donald Trump immediately after he delivered his announcement, expressing her regret during a phone call at his decision, her spokesman Steffen Seibert said on Twitter. | Angela Merkel called Donald Trump immediately after he delivered his announcement, expressing her regret during a phone call at his decision, her spokesman Steffen Seibert said on Twitter. |
| During the conversation she stressed that Germany would stick to the agreement. | During the conversation she stressed that Germany would stick to the agreement. |
| He added in another tweet in English: “Chancellor Merkel disappointed w/Pres. Trump’s decision. Now more than ever we will work for global policies that save our planet,” he wrote. | He added in another tweet in English: “Chancellor Merkel disappointed w/Pres. Trump’s decision. Now more than ever we will work for global policies that save our planet,” he wrote. |
| According to Seibert immediately after her call to Trump, Merkel telephoned with France’s president Emmanuel Macron, he said, and they were in agreement that “Germany and France will grasp at new initiatives in order to ensure the climate agreement is a success”. | According to Seibert immediately after her call to Trump, Merkel telephoned with France’s president Emmanuel Macron, he said, and they were in agreement that “Germany and France will grasp at new initiatives in order to ensure the climate agreement is a success”. |
| In a further tweet, he added that Germany, France and Italy were in agreement that the Paris agreement should not be renegotiated as it was of “vital importance for our planet”. | In a further tweet, he added that Germany, France and Italy were in agreement that the Paris agreement should not be renegotiated as it was of “vital importance for our planet”. |
| 10.11pm BST | 10.11pm BST |
| 22:11 | 22:11 |
| French president to speak live | French president to speak live |
| New French president Emmanuel Macron isn’t going to bed until he’s had his say about Trump’s withdrawal, apparently. He was to have started speaking 10 minutes ago, we’ll report what we hear. | New French president Emmanuel Macron isn’t going to bed until he’s had his say about Trump’s withdrawal, apparently. He was to have started speaking 10 minutes ago, we’ll report what we hear. |
| Je m'exprimerai en direct à 23h à propos de la décision du Président Trump de retirer les États-Unis des accords de Paris sur le climat. | Je m'exprimerai en direct à 23h à propos de la décision du Président Trump de retirer les États-Unis des accords de Paris sur le climat. |
| 10.07pm BST | 10.07pm BST |
| 22:07 | 22:07 |
| Reaction from We Rate Dogs: | Reaction from We Rate Dogs: |
| The We Rate Dogs account has HAD it. pic.twitter.com/o7m78pqfx4 | The We Rate Dogs account has HAD it. pic.twitter.com/o7m78pqfx4 |
| 10.03pm BST | 10.03pm BST |
| 22:03 | 22:03 |
| Reaction, cont'd | Reaction, cont'd |
| House minority leader Nancy Pelosi: “abandoning America’s leadership”: | House minority leader Nancy Pelosi: “abandoning America’s leadership”: |
| Pulling out of the Paris Accord defies the overwhelming support for action from credible scientists, the governments of 194 different countries and many religious groups. Faith leaders from Pope Francis to the evangelical community have urged us to act to preserve the beauty of God’s creation. | Pulling out of the Paris Accord defies the overwhelming support for action from credible scientists, the governments of 194 different countries and many religious groups. Faith leaders from Pope Francis to the evangelical community have urged us to act to preserve the beauty of God’s creation. |
| “By walking away from this pact, President Trump is abandoning America’s leadership position in the fight against the climate crisis and is sending a strong message to the rest of the world to create, design and manufacture clean energy solutions and create jobs elsewhere. If President Trump wants nations like China and India to take stronger and swifter action on climate, then he should do so through the accountability and enforcement provisions in the Paris Agreement, not by breaking our word and storming out of the room. | “By walking away from this pact, President Trump is abandoning America’s leadership position in the fight against the climate crisis and is sending a strong message to the rest of the world to create, design and manufacture clean energy solutions and create jobs elsewhere. If President Trump wants nations like China and India to take stronger and swifter action on climate, then he should do so through the accountability and enforcement provisions in the Paris Agreement, not by breaking our word and storming out of the room. |
| 10.01pm BST | 10.01pm BST |
| 22:01 | 22:01 |
| The view from Russia | The view from Russia |
| Alec Luhn | Alec Luhn |
| Trump’s withdrawal announcement came in the late evening in Russia, and official commentary was not immediately available. But Vladimir Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov said earlier on Thursday that Russia “attaches great importance” to the Paris climate accord, and a US withdrawal could complicate the agreement’s implementation. | Trump’s withdrawal announcement came in the late evening in Russia, and official commentary was not immediately available. But Vladimir Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov said earlier on Thursday that Russia “attaches great importance” to the Paris climate accord, and a US withdrawal could complicate the agreement’s implementation. |
| “Of course, the effectiveness and realisation of this convention will be hampered without key participants,” Peskov told journalists. “There is no alternative (to the accord) at this time.” | “Of course, the effectiveness and realisation of this convention will be hampered without key participants,” Peskov told journalists. “There is no alternative (to the accord) at this time.” |
| The Russian television station Ren TV warned that climate change “could turn into a real catastrophe” after the US withdrawal. | The Russian television station Ren TV warned that climate change “could turn into a real catastrophe” after the US withdrawal. |
| In a statement last year, the foreign ministry said Moscow signing the Paris accord “reaffirms Russia’s commitment to the joint objectives of the international community in global warming”. | In a statement last year, the foreign ministry said Moscow signing the Paris accord “reaffirms Russia’s commitment to the joint objectives of the international community in global warming”. |
| But in the past, climate change has often been seen as beneficial for Russia, which has been rushing to develop military bases, shipping routes and oil and gas fields in the Arctic as the region warms. Even though climate change has exacerbated forest fires and thawed permafrost in Russia, according to scientists, the issue has not been widely covered by state media here. | But in the past, climate change has often been seen as beneficial for Russia, which has been rushing to develop military bases, shipping routes and oil and gas fields in the Arctic as the region warms. Even though climate change has exacerbated forest fires and thawed permafrost in Russia, according to scientists, the issue has not been widely covered by state media here. |
| Putin, who once joked that Russians would spend less on fur coats, said at an Arctic forum in March that climate change would “continue anyway and anyhow” and skeptics “may not be at all silly”. | Putin, who once joked that Russians would spend less on fur coats, said at an Arctic forum in March that climate change would “continue anyway and anyhow” and skeptics “may not be at all silly”. |
| “Climate change brings in more favorable conditions and improves the economic potential of this region,” Putin said. | “Climate change brings in more favorable conditions and improves the economic potential of this region,” Putin said. |
| 10.00pm BST | 10.00pm BST |
| 22:00 | 22:00 |
| Astronaut Scott Kelly: | Astronaut Scott Kelly: |
| Withdrawing from the #ParisAgreement will be devastating to our planet. Paris and Pittsburgh share the same environment after all. pic.twitter.com/QNO5vHtmEF | Withdrawing from the #ParisAgreement will be devastating to our planet. Paris and Pittsburgh share the same environment after all. pic.twitter.com/QNO5vHtmEF |