Donald Trump took to Twitter on Wednesday 31 May to announce the imminent withdrawal of the United States from the Paris Agreement. The news was greeted with a degree of equanimity by the European Union, certain that the world will abide by its commitment to implement the universal climate agreement and that many in America will continue their activism.
The official decision will be given “over the next few days”, Trump said, confirming the position that was taking shape at the G7 summit (see EUROPE 11797).
Asked for his reaction, European Commission Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič told the European press: “We of course hear the rumours” and he made clear that the European Union would press on.
“For Europe, there is no plan B because we are clearly convinced that this is very important not only for the planet. It is very important for the future of mankind. We have very clearly proven in Europe that the energy transition, the use of cleaner technologies, more production from renewables clearly brings a business sense”, he stated. “The American business world is realising this more and more clearly”, he added, noting the huge potential of the solar industry for job creation in Texas and the rest of the United States.
130 American cities have submitted sustainable development plans for their future development to the Global Covenant of Mayors. Šefčovič said that a US withdrawal “would be disappointing but would not change the course of human history”.
He underlined, however, that a US pull-out would only increase expectations among partners throughout the world, particularly in Africa, Asia and China, for the EU to take the lead. “We are ready to do it. We will continue on this path, despite this possible reversal”, he stated, certain that, ultimately, “economic factors will prevail” in the United States. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)