The White House has told the United Nations they will still be participating in U.N. climate negotiations, even though they have chosen to opt out of the Paris Agreement. The U.S. will formally be removed from the Paris Agreement in early November 2019, according to the terms of the climate accord.
Millions of people around the world were left highly disappointed when the second-largest polluter of climate change gases (the U.S.) decided to withdraw from the climate agreement. Many leaders had sought to convince Trump to change his mind at the G20 Summit in July, but were not successful.
Today, the US submitted communication to @UN regarding the US intent to withdraw from the #ParisAgreement. https://t.co/ifcmK6CNDl
— Department of State (@StateDept) August 4, 2017
The statement letter sent to the U.N. stated that the U.S. wishes to remain present in climate talks and Paris Agreement plans in order to “protect U.S. interests and ensure all future policy options remain open to the administration.”
“As the President indicated in his June 1 announcement and subsequently, he is open to re-engaging in the Paris Agreement if the U.S. can identify terms that are more favorable to the United States, its businesses, its workers, its people, and its taxpayers,” the State Department statement says.
The United Nations welcomes the Trump Administration’s re-engagement, saying, “it is crucial that the United States remains a leader on climate and sustainable development. Climate change is impacting now.”
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