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Paris climate deal: Trump announces US will withdraw Paris climate deal: Trump announces US will withdraw
(35 minutes later)
President Donald Trump has announced that the US is withdrawing from the 2015 Paris climate agreement.President Donald Trump has announced that the US is withdrawing from the 2015 Paris climate agreement.
He said moves to negotiate a new deal that would not disadvantage the US would begin. He said moves to negotiate a new "fair" deal that would not disadvantage US businesses and workers would begin.
Mr Trump said during last year's presidential election campaign that he would take the step to help his country's oil and coal industries.Mr Trump said during last year's presidential election campaign that he would take the step to help his country's oil and coal industries.
Opponents say withdrawing from the accord is an abdication of US leadership on a key global challenge.Opponents say withdrawing from the accord is an abdication of US leadership on a key global challenge.
The Paris agreement commits the US and 187 other countries to keeping global temperatures "well below" the level of 2C (3.6F) above pre-industrial times and "endeavour to limit" them even more, to 1.5C. The Paris agreement commits the US and 187 other countries to keeping global temperatures rises "well below" 2C (3.6F) and "endeavour to limit" them even more, to 1.5C. Only Syria and Nicaragua failed to sign up to the deal.
Earlier, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres again appealed to Mr Trump not to break the commitment - but said the battle against climate change would continue regardless of the US stance. Speaking in the White House Rose Garden, Mr Trump characterised the agreement as a deal that aimed to hobble, disadvantage and impoverish the US.
He claimed that the Paris agreement would cost the US $3tn in lost GDP and 6.5 million jobs - while rival economies like China and India were treated more favourably.
"In order to fulfil my solemn duty to protect America and its citizens, the United States will withdraw from the Paris climate accord... but begin negotiations to re-enter either the Paris accord or a really entirely new transaction on terms that are fair to the United States, its businesses, its workers, its people, its taxpayers.
"So we're getting out but we will start to negotiate and we will see if we can make a deal that's fair."
Trump 'rejects the future'
Former President Barack Obama, who agreed to the Paris deal, immediately criticised the move.
"Even in the absence of American leadership, even as this administration joins a small handful of nations that reject the future, I'm confident that our states, cities and businesses will step up and do even more to lead the way, and help protect for future generations the one planet we've got," he said in a statement.
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres had earlier appealed to Mr Trump not to break the commitment - but said the battle against climate change would continue regardless of the US stance.
Mr Guterres told the BBC: "It is obviously a very important decision as the United States is the biggest economy in the world.Mr Guterres told the BBC: "It is obviously a very important decision as the United States is the biggest economy in the world.
"But independently of the decision of the American government, it's important that all other governments stay the course. "But independently of the decision of the American government, it's important that all other governments stay the course."
"The Paris agreement is essential for our collective future and it's also important that American society - like all other societies, the business community - mobilise themselves in order to preserve the Paris agreement as a central piece to guarantee the future of our children and grandchildren."
Meanwhile, Chinese and EU leaders are set to agree a joint statement backing the Paris agreement, saying it is "an imperative more important than ever".Meanwhile, Chinese and EU leaders are set to agree a joint statement backing the Paris agreement, saying it is "an imperative more important than ever".
The statement - a draft of which has been seen by the BBC - says rising temperatures affect national security and increase "social and political fragility", while the transition to clean energy creates jobs and economic growth.The statement - a draft of which has been seen by the BBC - says rising temperatures affect national security and increase "social and political fragility", while the transition to clean energy creates jobs and economic growth.
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has said his country will honour its commitments on climate change.
Speaking on a visit to Germany, he said fighting climate change was in China's own interests.
"China will continue to implement the promises made in the Paris accord. But of course we also hope to do this with the co-operation of others," Mr Li said.
As a big developing country, China had an "international responsibility" to try to prevent climate change, he added.
China overtook the US as the world's biggest emitter of greenhouse gases in 2007.
Chancellor Angela Merkel said Germany would stick to its commitments under the 2015 agreement.
"I consider it an essential treaty... and I am happy that other countries see it the same way."
Russia also said it would stick to its climate commitments, but said the Paris agreement would be affected by a US pullout.
"It goes without saying that the effectiveness of this convention is likely to be reduced without its key participants," a Kremlin spokesman said.
Mr Trump's refusal to commit to the Paris agreement caused frustration at a G7 meeting last week, with German Chancellor Angela Merkel describing the discussion as "difficult, not to say dissatisfying".Mr Trump's refusal to commit to the Paris agreement caused frustration at a G7 meeting last week, with German Chancellor Angela Merkel describing the discussion as "difficult, not to say dissatisfying".
What would US withdrawal do? Analysis by BBC environment correspondent Matt McGrath What will US withdrawal do? Analysis by BBC environment correspondent Matt McGrath
There's no doubt that a US pullout will make it more difficult for the world to reach the goals that it set for itself in the Paris agreement. The US contributes about 15% of global emissions of carbon, but it is also a significant source of finance and technology for developing countries in their efforts to fight rising temperatures.There's no doubt that a US pullout will make it more difficult for the world to reach the goals that it set for itself in the Paris agreement. The US contributes about 15% of global emissions of carbon, but it is also a significant source of finance and technology for developing countries in their efforts to fight rising temperatures.
There's also a question of moral leadership, which the US will be giving up, which may have consequences for other diplomatic efforts.There's also a question of moral leadership, which the US will be giving up, which may have consequences for other diplomatic efforts.
Michael Brune, from US environmentalist organisation the Sierra Club, said the expected withdrawal was a "historic mistake which our grandchildren will look back on with stunned dismay at how a world leader could be so divorced from reality and morality". Michael Brune, from US environmentalist organisation the Sierra Club, said the withdrawal was a "historic mistake which our grandchildren will look back on with stunned dismay at how a world leader could be so divorced from reality and morality".
More on this from MattMore on this from Matt
What is climate change?What is climate change?
What was agreed in Paris?What was agreed in Paris?
Climate change, or global warming, refers to the damaging effect of gases, or emissions, released from industry and agriculture on the atmosphere.Climate change, or global warming, refers to the damaging effect of gases, or emissions, released from industry and agriculture on the atmosphere.
The Paris accord is meant to limit the global rise in temperature attributed to emissions.The Paris accord is meant to limit the global rise in temperature attributed to emissions.
Countries agreed to:Countries agreed to:
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