In reaction to today’s announcement by the US President Donald Trump, Wendel Trio, Director of Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe said:
“As global temperatures hit record high every year now, the world is rightfully outraged by the decision to withdraw the US from the Paris Agreement.
We welcome the strong statements from all other world leaders that their countries will not withdraw their commitments, goals, policies and actions related to climate change. Unlike the view of the current US administration, countries all over the world see the Paris Agreement as an engine for growth and jobs.
The EU is already strengthening its climate alliances with countries like China and Canada, as well as those most affected by climate change, to ensure that international efforts to tackle climate change continue and increase. The EU needs to step up its game now, to trigger more climate action and smooth the way for scaling up the Paris climate pledges.”
ENDS
Contacts:
Wendel Trio, CAN Europe Director, wendel@caneurope.org, +32 473 170 887
Ania Drazkiewicz, CAN Europe Communications Coordinator, ania@caneurope.org, +32 494 525 738
Notes:
World leaders have recently reaffirmed their full support for the Paris Agreement and the global fight against climate change:
“I think that the Paris Agreement is so important that there shouldn’t be compromises,” German Chancellor, Angela Merkel
“The vacuum that would be created [by the U.S. dropping out of the Paris agreement] has to be filled, and Europe has aspirations for a natural leadership in this whole process,” President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker
“The EU must continue to be at the forefront. Our longstanding commitment and determination is an example. We will not miss the opportunity that the Paris Agreement represents for our citizens, our environment and our economy.” President of the European Parliament, Antonio Tajani
“For Europe there is no plan B, because we do not have a planet B. What we are already feeling is that there are much stronger expectations from our partners across the world, in Africa, Asia and China, that Europe should assume leadership in this effort. We are ready to do that.” Vice-President of the European Commission and the EU’s Energy Union chief, Maroš Šefčovič
“The EU and China are joining forces to forge ahead on the implementation of the Paris agreement and accelerate the global transition to clean energy.” The EU’s climate commissioner, Miguel Arias Cañete
“China has been actively promoting the Paris agreement and we were one of the first countries to ratify the Paris agreement. Fighting climate change is a global consensus, it’s not invented by China… and we realize that this is a global consensus agreement and that as a big developing nation we should shoulder our international responsibility.” Chinese Premier, Li Keqiang
“We do not have the right to spoil the environment for future generations … that is, morally speaking, a crime on our part,” Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi
“President (Vladimir) Putin signed this convention in Paris. Russia attaches great significance to it.” Kremlin spokesman, Dmitry Peskov
“Canada’s just going to keep marching on, like the rest of the world.” “We certainly will be at the table… playing a leadership role because we think it’s the right thing to do and it makes economic sense.” Canada Environment Minister, Catherine McKenna
Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe is Europe’s largest coalition working on climate and energy issues. With over 130 member organisations in more than 30 European countries – representing over 44 million citizens – CAN Europe works to prevent dangerous climate change and promote sustainable climate and energy policy in Europe.
