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Donald Trump confirms withdrawal from Paris Agreement on climate change in huge blow for global deal Donald Trump confirms withdrawal from Paris Agreement on climate change in huge blow for global deal
(35 minutes later)
Donald Trump has announced the withdrawal of the US from the global Paris agreement on climate change - in a huge blow to efforts to curb the effects of global warming. The president said he wants to "renegotiate" a "more fair" deal for the US with Democrats and other countries. Donald Trump has announced the withdrawal of the US from the global Paris agreement on climate change - in a huge blow to efforts to curb the effects of global warming. The president said he wants to "renegotiate" a "more fair" deal for the US with Democrats and other countries. 
He added: "if we can get a deal, that's great. If not, that's fine."  He added: "if we can get a deal, that's great. If not, that's fine." 
Mr Trump, who had made pulling out of the pact - which has been signed by almost 200 nations - a central plank of his run for the presidency, said that in withdrawing he was "keeping his campaign promise to put American workers first".Mr Trump, who had made pulling out of the pact - which has been signed by almost 200 nations - a central plank of his run for the presidency, said that in withdrawing he was "keeping his campaign promise to put American workers first".
He said he wants to talk to citizens of "Pittsburgh, not Paris."  He said he wants to talk to citizens of "Pittsburgh, not Paris" to cheers in the crowd of the Rose Garden at the White House. 
The President had been put under extreme pressure by allies around the world to stay in the agreement, and though administration said his views on the subject were "evolving" - having previously claimed climate change was a "hoax" - Mr Trump refused to be backed into a corner.The President had been put under extreme pressure by allies around the world to stay in the agreement, and though administration said his views on the subject were "evolving" - having previously claimed climate change was a "hoax" - Mr Trump refused to be backed into a corner.
He has said that the deal would hit the US coal industry hard and that it would prove "too costly" for US to stick to the Paris accord to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. But Mr Trump ignores the fact that new money in renewable energy outpaced new investments in fossil fuels for the first time in 2015 to the tune of $350bn. He has said that the deal would hit the US coal industry hard and that it would prove "too costly" for US to stick to the Paris accord to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. But Mr Trump ignores the fact that new money in renewable energy outpaced new investments in fossil fuels for the first time in 2015 to the tune of $350bn. 
During the campaign, Mr Trump said the accord would cost the US economy trillions of dollars with no tangible benefit. Vice President Mike Pence said that Mr Trump was putting "American energy and American energy first".During the campaign, Mr Trump said the accord would cost the US economy trillions of dollars with no tangible benefit. Vice President Mike Pence said that Mr Trump was putting "American energy and American energy first".
However the numbers Mr Trump presented are inaccurate and do not take into account normal job rate loss and creation, jobs shifting towards more 'green' sectors, and the tangible benefits of cleaner air, water, and less risk of natural disasters along US coastlines.  However, the numbers Mr Trump presented - notably losing 2.7 million jobs by 2025 - are inaccurate and do not take into account normal job rate loss and creation, jobs shifting towards more 'green' sectors, and the tangible benefits of cleaner air, water, and less risk of natural disasters along US coastlines. 
He also cited how "down" several industries had become recently: cement, iron, steel, natural gas, and coal - "and I happen to love the coal miners," he said. He failed to note that the renewable energy industry grew leaps and bounds and provided nearly 64% of all new electricity generating capacity constructed in the U.S. in 2015, according to the US Department of Energy.
Before his announcement on the climate deal, Mr Trump was at pains to point out the "tremendous" progress the US economy has made since his election in November - as well as the progress he had made on trade deals with partners around the world. Before his announcement on the climate deal, Mr Trump was at pains to point out the "tremendous" progress the US economy has made since his election in November - as well as the progress he had made on trade deals with partners around the world. 
He blamed the "tough trade practices" that other countries employed during the Obama administration for the US losing trillions of dollars, but did not present any evidence of it. He blamed the "tough trade practices" that other countries employed during the Obama administration for the US losing trillions of dollars, but did not present any evidence of it. 
White House talking points stated that the Paris accord “was negotiated poorly by the Obama Administration and signed out of desperation.”  White House talking points stated that the Paris accord “was negotiated poorly by the Obama Administration and signed out of desperation.” Mr Trump called it "another example of Washington entering an agreement that disadvantages the US." 
Pulling out of the agreement outright would take four years under the standard cooling-off period for new international treaties - the route Mr Trump is likely to take, but he said that the US is out "as of today." Pulling out of the agreement outright would take four years under the standard cooling-off period for new international treaties - the route Mr Trump is likely to take, but he said that the US is out "as of today." 
While travelling abroad last week, Mr Trump was repeatedly pressed to stay in the deal by European leaders and the pope. Withdrawing would leave the United States aligned only with Russia among the world's industrialised economies. While travelling abroad last week, Mr Trump was repeatedly pressed to stay in the deal by European leaders and the pope. Withdrawing would leave the United States aligned only with Russia among the world's industrialised economies. 
American corporate leaders have also appealed to the businessman-turned-president to stay in the pact. They include Apple, Google and Walmart. Even fossil fuel companies such as Exxon Mobil, BP and Shell say the United States should abide by the deal. American corporate leaders have also appealed to the businessman-turned-president to stay in the pact. They include Apple, Google and Walmart. Even fossil fuel companies such as Exxon Mobil, BP and Shell say the United States should abide by the deal. 
In a Berlin speech, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said that fighting climate change is a “global consensus” and an “international responsibility.” In a Berlin speech, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said that fighting climate change is a “global consensus” and an “international responsibility.” 
“China in recent years has stayed true to its commitment,” said Mr Li. “China in recent years has stayed true to its commitment,” said Mr Li. China and India have indeed become leaders in the solar power industry and Richard Gowan, a UN expert with the European Council on Foreign Relations, told The Independent  that Mr Trump “may not care, but he has just created an astonishing opportunity for the Chinese to assert themselves in the UN system."  
Last year was the warmest since records began in the 19th century, as global average temperatures continued a rise dating back decades that leading climate scientists attribute to man-made greenhouse gas emissions that trap heat in the atmosphere.Last year was the warmest since records began in the 19th century, as global average temperatures continued a rise dating back decades that leading climate scientists attribute to man-made greenhouse gas emissions that trap heat in the atmosphere.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres tweeted on Thursday, “Climate action is not just the right thing to do, it is the smart thing to do.”United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres tweeted on Thursday, “Climate action is not just the right thing to do, it is the smart thing to do.”
In Berlin, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who pressed Mr Trump to stay in the pact last week at a meeting of the Group of Seven (G7) nations, described the accord as essential and said she was pleased many other governments agreed.In Berlin, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who pressed Mr Trump to stay in the pact last week at a meeting of the Group of Seven (G7) nations, described the accord as essential and said she was pleased many other governments agreed.
A recent report by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) shows that the world’s economies could boost economic growth by nearly three per cent by 2021 if they institute policies that would lower greenhouse gas emissions. By 2050 that growth could reach up to five per cent.
Mr Trump met Wednesday with Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, who has favoured remaining in the agreement. Chief strategist Steve Bannon supports an exit, as does Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt. Mr Trump met Wednesday with Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, who has favoured remaining in the agreement. Chief strategist Steve Bannon supports an exit, as does Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt. 
Trump's chief economic adviser, Gary Cohn, had discussed the possibility of changing the US carbon reduction targets instead of pulling out of the deal completely. Senior adviser Jared Kushner generally thinks the deal is bad but still would like to see if emissions targets can be changed.  Mr Trump's chief economic adviser, Gary Cohn, had discussed the possibility of changing the US carbon reduction targets instead of pulling out of the deal completely. His son-in-law and senior adviser Jared Kushner generally thinks the deal is bad but still would like to see if emissions targets can be changed. 
Scientists say Earth is likely to reach more dangerous levels of warming sooner if the US retreats from its pledge because America contributes so much to rising temperatures. Calculations suggest withdrawal could result in emissions of up to 3 billion tons of additional carbon dioxide in the air a year — enough to melt ice sheets faster, raise seas higher and trigger more extreme weather.  Scientists say Earth is likely to reach more dangerous levels of warming sooner if the US retreats from its pledge because America contributes so much to rising temperatures. Calculations suggest withdrawal could result in emissions of up to 3 billion tonnes of additional carbon dioxide in the air a year — enough to melt ice sheets faster, raise seas higher and trigger more extreme weather. 
The Vatican, which under Pope Francis' insistence has strongly backed the accord, would see a US exit as disaster and “a huge slap in the face,” Bishop Marcelo Sanchez Sorondo, a senior Vatican official, told the Rome newspaper La Repubblica. The Vatican, which under Pope Francis' insistence has strongly backed the accord, sees a US exit as disaster and “a huge slap in the face,” Bishop Marcelo Sanchez Sorondo, a senior Vatican official, told the Rome newspaper La Repubblica.
At their meeting between the Pontiff and the President last month, the Pope gave Mr Trump a signed copy of his 2015 encyclical letter calling for protecting the environment from the effects of climate change and backed scientific evidence that it is caused by human activity.At their meeting between the Pontiff and the President last month, the Pope gave Mr Trump a signed copy of his 2015 encyclical letter calling for protecting the environment from the effects of climate change and backed scientific evidence that it is caused by human activity.
The pontiff's influence nor any discussions with world leaders have obviously had no bearing on Mr Trump. "They don't put America first. I do and always will," is Mr Trump's resounding message to world. 
Mr Trump repeatedly said the Paris deal would hurt US jobs, economy, and the "forgotten men and women" of America. 
But, Mr Trump's own Secretary of State Rex Tillerson - a former Exxon Mobil CEO - urged him to stay in the deal because reducing emissions and job growth can occur simultaneously. 
Secretary of Defence James Mattis has also told Mr Trump that withdrawing from the Paris Agreement would make the job of the Pentagon more difficult. Mr Mattis believes that adapting to a warming planet should be addressed by the whole government to reduce the country's security risks. 
Francesco Femia, Co-President of the Center for Climate and Security, a think tank of senior retired military officers and national security experts told The Independent that this will make “it difficult to cooperate with allies and partners on a range of security issues." 
Mr Trump said it was his "solemn duty to protect US citizens" and that is why he is withdrawing the US but according to Mr Femia this actually creates “political penalties, but also strategic penalties" to America's safety.