The world will resist Trump’s attempt to derail climate action

Friday, June 2, 2017

Greenpeace Australia Pacific has condemned US President Donald Trump’s withdrawal of the US from the Paris Agreement and affirmed that the rest of the world will continue to make progress on ambitious climate action. There are 194 other countries who are party to the pact, which will still account for 87 per cent of global carbon emissions.

Greenpeace Head of Pacific, Matisse Walkden-Brown said, “We move on and we move forward, together. The United States administration have shown their allegiance to the glory days of the past. Sadly for them, the economics, the science, and the people, all agree that the fossil fuel days are over, and that the transformation towards zero carbon is now irreversibly under way and accelerating.”

“While this is a shameful day for President Trump and his people, it will not deter the rest of us. Sadly for them, the economics, the science, and the people, all agree that the fossil fuel days are over, and that the transformation towards zero carbon now irreversibly under way and accelerating," Ms Walkden-Brown said.

“Trump has today further isolated his administration from the rest of the world. He must now accept the consequences that we will all move ahead without the US, as real world leaders embrace the clean energy transition and the social, economic, and environmental benefits it brings.”

“The Pacific is not going anywhere. Our Pacific island states may be uniquely vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, but we are not just victims of climate change. We are custodians of large ocean states, leaders in progressive policy, ambitious and outspoken foreign diplomats, so we will continue as torchbearers, paving the way into the new, safe, just and sustainable world.”

Greenpeace Climate and Energy Campaigner, Nikola Casule, says that Australia must immediately reaffirm its commitment to the Paris Agreement and begin strengthening it's woefully inadequate targets. It's time for Australia to follow the Pacific and stand with those on the frontlines of climate change.

“Real global leaders are taking urgent action on climate change. Other major parties to the historic Paris Agreement — including China, the EU and India — have signalled they remain firmly committed to the deal. At the very least, we expect that the rest of the nearly 200 nations will be stepping up and holding the US government to account. Australia must stand with them. Because global climate action is not a legal or political debate, it is a moral obligation to protect our planet and people.”

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