President Donald J. Trump has decided that the climate change is not sufficiently threatening to merit an extra financial burden on U.S. companies, announcing on Thursday that the U.S. is withdrawing from the Paris climate agreement.
Mr. Trump’s central campaign promise is fulfilled, but the latest move has outraged allies and countries like China, which has been a victim of environmental pollution in big cities. Without the U.S., which is one of the biggest environmental polluters, the deal is virtually dead, and it is unclear if other countries will commit to the deal.
Mr. Trump’s long-anticipated announcement on the climate change drew sharp criticisms from leaders around the world. Many large-scale U.S. corporations urged Mr. Trump to reconsider his promise to exit from the Paris climate deal, warning that it could bury U.S. leadership role on many fronts.
President Trump said his decision was driven by his signature America First policy, and that exiting the climate deal constitutes a reassertion of America’s sovereignty.
“I was elected to represent the people in Pittsburg, not in Paris,” the president said from the White House, followed by a cheering applause of a small number of supporters. It was not clear why he made this remark since the climate change deal is deriving its name from the city it was signed.
“Walking away from Paris treaty is a mistake. Climate change is real. We owe our children more. Protecting our future also creates more jobs,” former President Bill Clinton tweeted just hours after the president’s decision.
Mr. Trump said the climate change agreement was negotiated during the previous administration and it was unfair to the U.S. workers.
Only Nicaragua and Syria, both staunchly anti-U.S. countries, are opposed to the Paris climate pact.
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