ris: United States President Donald Trump has announced withdrawal from the Paris climate deal.
He, however, said that the US will begin fresh negotiations to enter either the Paris deal or a totally new climate deal.
Announcing the withdrawal, he said the deal caused major job loss to the US while making other countries gain a financial advantage over the US.
He said the deal put the US to a ‘very, very severe’ economic disadvantage.
He called the deal a ‘self-inflicted major economic wound’ on the US.
Exiting Paris deal would see US ‘reject the future’: Obama:
Former President Barack Obama slammed his successor President Donald Trump today for pulling out of the Paris climate deal, warning that the move would see the United States ‘reject the future’ by not abiding by the agreement.
‘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,’ Obama said in a statement.
European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker also lashed at Trump’s decision.
Juncker tweeted that the withdrawal — announced by Trump in a highly anticipated statement from the White House rose Garden — was ‘a seriously wrong decision’.
UN chief dismayed over Trump pulling out of Paris Accord:
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has expressed disappointment over President Donald Trump’s decision to pull out of the Paris Accord, saying he is confident all other parties to the ambitious pact will continue with their efforts to reduce the emissions.
“The decision by the United States to withdraw from the Paris Agreement on climate change is a major disappointment for global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote international security,” according to a statement read by Guterres’s spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said.
Top CEOs tell Trump: You’re wrong on Paris:
Dozens of top executives urged Trump not to pull the US out of the Paris climate agreement. Now, many are voicing their displeasure.
“Disappointed with today’s decision on the Paris Agreement. Climate change is real. Industry must now lead and not depend on government,” said General Electronic CEO Jeff Immelt on Twitter.
Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, announced that he’s quitting the president’s business advisory councils because of the decision.
“Am departing presidential councils. Climate change is real. Leaving Paris is not good for America or the world,” he said on Twitter.
Google CEO Sundar Pichai also weighed in.
“Disappointed with today’s decision. Google will keep working hard for a cleaner, more prosperous future for all,” he said.
Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg shared his own chagrin.
“Withdrawing from the Paris climate agreement is bad for the environment, bad for the economy, and it puts our children’s future at risk,” Zuckerberg said.
In recent months, hundreds of companies had lobbied the Trump administration to remain in the agreement. Apple, Starbucks, Gap , Nike, Adidas, L’Oreal and Monsanto all voiced their support for the Paris deal.
