Former U.N. Official Calls U.S. A ‘Rogue State’ Amid Paris Climate Withdrawal
- 7 years ago
A former U.N. special envoy on climate change has called the U.S. a “rogue state” in the wake of President Trump’s announcement that he wants to withdraw from the Paris climate accord.
A former U.N. special envoy on climate change has called the U.S. a “rogue state” in the wake of President Trump’s announcement that he wants to withdraw from the Paris climate accord.
Mary Robinson, who also used to be President of Ireland, has been quoted as saying, “The US reneging on its commitment to the Paris Agreement renders it a rogue state on the international stage.”
Nicaragua and Syria are the only other two countries in the world that have not signed on, notes the Huffington Post.
Robinson made the comment as a member of The Elders which calls itself “an independent group of global leaders working together for peace and human rights.”
Despite her initial criticism, she added, “...the Trump administration’s withdrawal from the Paris Agreement will not stop climate action in the United States. At state level, in cities, in businesses and communities around the country the move away from fossil fuels is well underway.”
In fact, U.S. city and state leaders--including New York City mayor Bill de Blasio, Los Angeles mayor Eric Garcetti, and California Governor Jerry Brown--have already spoken out about implementing at least some of the climate provisions locally.
The Washington Post has also reported that “thirty states and scores of companies said Thursday that they would press ahead with their climate policies and pursue lower greenhouse gas emissions...”
Despite Trump’s decision to withdraw, he stated in his June 1 speech that he plans to “begin negotiations to reenter either the Paris Accord or a really entirely new transaction on terms that are fair to the United States, its businesses, its workers, its people, its taxpayers.”
However, the leaders of Italy, France, and Germany seemed to dispel that notion by issuing a joint statement which included the line, “...we firmly believe that the Paris Agreement cannot be renegotiated.”
A former U.N. special envoy on climate change has called the U.S. a “rogue state” in the wake of President Trump’s announcement that he wants to withdraw from the Paris climate accord.
Mary Robinson, who also used to be President of Ireland, has been quoted as saying, “The US reneging on its commitment to the Paris Agreement renders it a rogue state on the international stage.”
Nicaragua and Syria are the only other two countries in the world that have not signed on, notes the Huffington Post.
Robinson made the comment as a member of The Elders which calls itself “an independent group of global leaders working together for peace and human rights.”
Despite her initial criticism, she added, “...the Trump administration’s withdrawal from the Paris Agreement will not stop climate action in the United States. At state level, in cities, in businesses and communities around the country the move away from fossil fuels is well underway.”
In fact, U.S. city and state leaders--including New York City mayor Bill de Blasio, Los Angeles mayor Eric Garcetti, and California Governor Jerry Brown--have already spoken out about implementing at least some of the climate provisions locally.
The Washington Post has also reported that “thirty states and scores of companies said Thursday that they would press ahead with their climate policies and pursue lower greenhouse gas emissions...”
Despite Trump’s decision to withdraw, he stated in his June 1 speech that he plans to “begin negotiations to reenter either the Paris Accord or a really entirely new transaction on terms that are fair to the United States, its businesses, its workers, its people, its taxpayers.”
However, the leaders of Italy, France, and Germany seemed to dispel that notion by issuing a joint statement which included the line, “...we firmly believe that the Paris Agreement cannot be renegotiated.”