Trump ‘set to withdraw from’ climate deal

Donald Trump is expected to attach caveats to soften fallout from decision to withdraw from the Paris climate deal.

Trump refused to endorse the landmark climate change. Picture: AP

Donald Trump is expected to attach caveats to soften the fallout from his expected decision to withdraw from the Paris climate change agreement.

The president kept Washington guessing today about his final position with some aides insisting that he was almost certain to withdraw from the global pact while others said he had not made up his mind.

“I’m hearing from people both ways,” he said in a brief media comment at the White House.

But the growing expectation is that the president will withdraw from 2015 pact of more than 190 nations in a move which would jolt the international push to cut global greenhouse gas emissions.

US officials were quoted as saying that the White House was considering whether to include “caveats in the language” in any decision to withdraw which could soften the impact of the decision.

I will be announcing my decision on the Paris Accord over the next few days. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 31, 2017

The White House was also said to be weighing up whether to initiate a full formal withdraw from the Paris accord, which could take up to four years, or withdraw from the underlying UN climate change treaty, which could be done immediately.

Withdrawal from the Paris accord would mean that Trump, who is a climate change sceptic, has honored a key election promise.

The debate about withdrawing has divided the White House with Trump’s daughter Ivanka and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson strongly arguing for the US to remain in the pact. But the so-called nationalist faction of the administration, led by chief strategist Steve Bannon has argued for a full withdrawal.

On twitter today Trump said “I will be announcing my decision on the Paris accord over the next few days. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”

EU ‘to take global leadership’

A US pullout would be disappointing but the European Union stands ready to take global leadership on the issue, European Commission Vice President Maros Sefcovic said in Brussels, reports Reuters.

The European Union and China are working on a joint declaration reaffirming their commitment to climate and energy policy and the implementation of the Paris agreement, according to an EU official with knowledge of the plans. Supporters of the climate pact are concerned that a US exit could lead other nations to weaken their commitments or also withdraw, softening an accord that scientists have said is critical to avoiding the worst impacts of climate change.

A March Reuters/Ipsos opinion poll found that 50 per cent of Republicans agreed that the US should lead the global fight against climate change, while 37 per cent disagreed and 13 per cent were unsure.

Oil majors Shell and Exxon Mobil have also supported the pact along with a number of Republican lawmakers.

With Reuters