The European Union was not surprised to receive formal notification of the United States' request to withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement on Monday, 4 November, but expressed its regret.
The European Union was, however, keen to place the potential impact of the American withdrawal in perspective in view of the number of countries that are still party to the global agreement (193 in total), and the number of local authorities in the United States and the number of American citizens who still support climate action, and in view of the EU's determination to continue fighting the threat posed by climate change in a spirit of goodwill, in accordance with the Paris Agreement.
“The EU deeply regrets the unilateral decision by the Trump administration to withdraw the US from the Paris Agreement. The EU remains committed to the Agreement, and the world can continue to count on Europe for global leadership in the fight against climate change”, said Krista Mikkonen, Finland’s Minister for Environment and Climate Change, on behalf of the Council of the EU. She gave a guarantee that “Europe will lead through ambitious climate policies and by providing continued support to the poor and vulnerable”.
The EU used the same language the day after Donald Trump's initial withdrawal announcement on 1 June, 2017 (see EUROPE 11801/7).
Outi Honkatukia, the Chief Negotiator from Finland, believes that “it is important for the US to participate in the negotiations so that they can come back later. They are now changing their status from a party to an observer”.
It is very likely that representatives from the Trump administration will attend the next COP (COP25, Madrid, 2-13 December), as usual.
“The Paris Agreement has strong foundations and is here to stay. The EU, with our partners, stand ready to strengthen cooperation with all parties to implement it. We will continue working with stakeholders and entities in the USA who remain committed to ambitious climate action”, stated Miguel Arias Cañete, the EU Commissioner for Energy and Climate Action, on Twitter on Tuesday.
According to European Commission spokesperson Mina Andreeva, “the doors [of the Paris Agreement] remain open and we hope that the United States will decide to pass through them again one day”.
When asked by the press about the potential consequences of Donald Trump's formal approach to international negotiations, she replied: “The parties to the Paris Agreement will meet at COP 25 in Madrid in December”. She believes that this will not affect current preparations.
Under the withdrawal procedure, the United States will no longer be a party to the Paris Agreement from 4 November, 2020, a year from now, and a day after the American presidential elections.
Pascal Canfin, MEP (Renew Europe, France), chair of the European Parliament's Environment Committee, has a dream. “The Paris Agreement enters into force formally at the end of 2020. If Donald Trump is not re-elected, the United States will be able to return to the agreement in time and put an end to this irresponsible hiatus”.
Bas Eickhout (Greens/EFA, Netherlands) said that “the fact that the United States has abandoned the global climate scene makes it all the more important that the EU steps up its game and takes the lead in international climate negotiations. Frans Timmermans, the new Climate Commissioner, should begin by proposing higher climate targets, specifically reducing CO2 emissions by at least 65% by 2030”.
The NGOs that form part of Climate Action Tracker (CAT) believe that it is “irresponsible of the world's second largest emitter to deliberately turns its back on the Paris Agreement”. According to CAT’s calculations, the decision will mean that American emissions will end up 3% higher in 2030 than they would under existing American policies.
China condemned the American withdrawal that is now underway. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)