Trump’s pullout from Paris climate pact ‘threatens lives’ of Pacific people

1
295
SHARE
US President Donald Trump's withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement stirs condemnation across the world. Image: RawStory

Pacific Media Watch News Desk

President Donald Trump’s move to pull the United States out of the Paris Climate Agreement is a grave moral injustice, say Pacific civil society groups.

His decision is a clear sign of continued support for the fossil fuel industry which directly threatens the lives of communities living in the Pacific Islands.

The group of Pacific Island civil society organisations affiliated to the Pacific Islands Climate Action Network (PICAN) say that while this move by Trump would isolate the US from any ambitious action on climate change, the Pacific and the rest of the world will carry on with Paris Agreement commitments.

PICAN also called on Australia to immediately reaffirm its commitment to the Paris Agreement and begin strengthening its “woefully inadequate targets” in a statement today.

“It’s time for Australia to follow the lead of the Pacific and stand with those on the frontlines of climate change.”

Responses from PICAN members:

Krishneil Narayan, coordinator, Pacific Islands Climate Action Network:
“The Paris Agreement is a lifeline for vulnerable communities around the world. We will not be perturbed by the US withdrawal. Under no circumstances can the Paris Agreement be renegotiated. We expect all other countries to redouble their efforts to confront the climate crisis.

“We welcome the strong show of support to the Paris Agreement by many world leaders. The European Union, China, India and others are already forming alliances to support the continuation of the Paris Agreement.

“Even without the United States, climate action under the Paris Agreement will continue. Not even Trump can derail action on climate change. The United States will be isolated.”

Matisse Walkden Brown, head of Pacific Net, Greenpeace Australia Pacific:
“We move on and we move forward, together. The United States administration have shown their allegiance to the glory days of the past. Sadly for them, the economics, the science, and the people, all agree that the fossil fuel days are over, and that the transformation towards zero carbon is now irreversibly under way and accelerating.

“While this is a shameful day for President Trump and his people, it will not deter the rest of us. It is time for international politics to begin embracing new economies, new technologies, and commit to the fighting for the interests of the people, not the polluters. One man, one country will not change that.”

Koreti Tiumalu, Pacific coordinator, 350.org:
“Trump’s exit from the Paris agreement is immoral and a sign of shortsightedness on his part. It’s even clearer now that his priority is with protecting the profits of the fossil fuel industry and not the Pacific.

“Nevertheless, our Pacific people believe in the strength of the Pacific leadership, and the rest of the world, going into COP 23 and their commitments to the Paris Agreement. It is now up to us to continue to fight for our communities, stop all new fossil fuel projects and support a just transition towards 100% renewable energy.”

Noelene Nabulivou, Diverse Voices and Action for Equality, Pacific Partnerships on Gender, Climate Change and Sustainable Development (PPGCCSD), and the Women and Gender Constituency Liaison to the COP23 Presidency:
“This is not just the decision of one man, rather it is a reflection of an archaic social and economic system, one that is based on shortsighted selfishness and corporatisation of our planet.

“This only strengthens the resolve of all those who deeply care about this planet, all women and all people and all species. Resist and propose. Defend the Commons, work with us on alternate strategies. We will NEVER give up on this beautiful planet. ”

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

1 COMMENT

  1. Trump’s decision not only risks the safety of frontline communities but also spits in the face of those who fought tirelessly for the deal.

    But we know who can make Trump rethink his disastrous decision to pull out of the Paris climate agreement: The 17 CEOs on Trump’s business advisory council. From IBM to Walmart, the CEOs that are on the council represent some of the most powerful corporations in the world. Now is the opportunity to show their commitment to a safe and sustainable future and abandon Trump if he doesn’t back down.

    Already, two CEOs — Tesla’s Elon Musk and Disney’s Bob Iger — have stepped down from the council in light of Trump pulling the US from the climate agreement — let’s call on the remaining 15 CEOs on the council to take a stand for the future of our planet.

    Tell Trump’s advisory council to walk since Trump pulled the US out of the Paris climate agreement

    Targeting Trump’s advisory council really works — when Trump proposed his first immoral Muslim ban, 180,000 SumOfUs supporters like you called on the CEOs on the advisory council to step down – and it worked! Uber’s CEO Travis Kalanick stepped down from his role on Trump’s council and the Muslim ban has still not been enacted thanks to the relentless effort of the greater movement.

    Tesla’s Elon Musk and Disney’s Bob Iger have already walked away from the advisory council in protest of Trump’s catastrophic move. Now that Trump has made his announcement to abandon the deal that nearly every country in the world has signed onto, it’s time the other CEOs from massive multinational corporations like Walmart, PepsiCo, JPMorgan Chase, GM, GE, and Boeing follow Musks’s lead.

    In defiance of Trump’s catastrophic decision, a group including 30 mayors, three governors, more than 100 businesses and more than 80 presidents of U.S. universities is planning to present a plan to the United Nations that would meet the greenhouse-gas emission targets under the Paris climate agreement.

    Call on the 15 CEOs to step down from Trump’s advisory council in light of pulling the US out of the Paris climate agreement

    The Paris climate agreement represents huge gains in the global effort to stop the catastrophic impact of global warming, including keeping the global temperature rise to no more than 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and working toward net-zero emissions by 2070.

    SumOfUs was on the front lines of the grassroots movement to pass the Paris climate agreement. More than 200,000 of us called on Shell to stop sending lobbyists to Paris. Together with millions of people from around the world, we rejoiced when the landmark agreement was signed. We can’t let Donald Trump set us back and threaten the safety of our communities. We need to put pressure on the CEOs closest to Trump gets his hands off this deal once and for all.

    The global community is outraged, and with your help, we can win this!

    Fighting for People over Profits
    Sign the petition at https://actions.sumofus.org/a/trump-to-back-out-of-paris-agreement/?akid=30911.12986593.Zv8o70&rd=1&source=fwd&t=2

Comments are closed.