US withdrawal from Paris Agreement "deeply disappointing", says Bainimarama [1]
Friday, June 2, 2017 - 15:25. Updated on Friday, June 2, 2017 - 15:26.
"Deeply disappointing," is how the incoming President of COP23, Fiji’s Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama, this morning responded to the decision by the Trump administration to withdraw from the Paris Agreement on climate change.
He said it was especially disappointing for the citizens of vulnerable nations throughout the world.
"It is also a grave disappointment for millions of people living in those areas of the United States that are threatened by the effects of climate change, whether it is the flooding that threatens cities like New York and Miami, or the periods of drought and deluge that have plagued California and other states, or the temperature rise that is affecting cities, wildlife and natural areas across the United States," he said in a statement.
"As incoming President of COP23, I did what I could - along with many leaders around the world - to try to persuade President Trump to remain standing shoulder-to-shoulder with us as, together, we tackle the greatest challenge our planet has ever faced. While the loss of America’s leadership is unfortunate, this is a struggle that is far from over."
Bainimarama said that the world has reached the consensus that all nations must meet this challenge together, and we need not forgo economic growth to do so.
"Solving the climate crisis through cooperation, innovation, new technologies and improved access to capital around the world will create real, sustainable economic growth for those who have the vision to make this moment of challenge a moment of opportunity."
He believed that the rest of the world remains fully committed to the implementation of the Paris Agreement. "I am especially encouraged by the commitment being shown by China, India, the European Union, Canada, Mexico and the vast majority of other nations. They will continue to lead this process, with or without the support of the Trump Administration, but with the knowledge and assurance that many ordinary Americans support participation in the Paris Agreement, and that many American states, cities and businesses will continue to pursue the ambitious climate action the Agreement entails."
Bainmarama said he was commited to accelerating the momentum that has continued since the Paris Agreement, embracing governments, civil society, the private sector and millions of ordinary men and women around the world.
"I am also convinced that the United States Government will eventually rejoin our struggle because the scientific evidence of man-made climate change is well understood. The issue is settled, and the impacts are obvious, and humankind ignores these facts at its peril."
The Pacific Islands region is among the most vulnerable in the world affected by climate change with rising sea levels and frequent stronger natural disasters.
To highlight the vulnerability of Small Islands', the Presidency of Fiji will convene the 2017 UN Climate Change Conference (COP23 [2]) to take place in Bonn, Germany from 6 to 17 November 2017.
The Paris Agreement [3]’s main aim is to strengthen global response to climate change by limiting the increase of global temperatures to well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels this century; pursue efforts to limit temperature increase even further to 1.5 degrees Celsius, and to strengthen the ability of countries to deal with climate change impacts.