Trump admn notifies UN of withdrawal from Paris Agreement on climate change

WASHINGTON: The United States has formally notified the United Nations of its withdrawal from the Paris climate accord, a global agreement in which President Donald Trump’s predecessor Barack Obama and Prime Minister Narendra Modi had played instrumental roles.

Mike Pompeo. AFP file

Washington, November 5

The United States has formally notified the United Nations of its withdrawal from the Paris climate accord, a global agreement in which President Donald Trump’s predecessor Barack Obama and Prime Minister Narendra Modi had played instrumental roles.

Although Trump had announced his decision to withdraw from the historic Paris Agreement on climate change on June 1, 2017, the process began on Monday with the formal notification and the US will be out of the pact on November 4, 2020.

“Today, the United States began the process to withdraw from the Paris Agreement. As per the terms of the agreement, the United States submitted formal notification of its withdrawal to the United Nations. The withdrawal will take effect one year from delivery of the notification,” US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement.

A spokesperson of the UN Secretary-General in New York said the US had notified the secretary-general, in his capacity as depositary, of its withdrawal from the Paris Agreement of December 12, 2015 on November 4, 2019. The US had signed the Paris Agreement on April 22, 2016 and expressed its consent to be bound by the agreement by acceptance on 3 September 2016.

“In accordance with the provisions of its Article 28, paragraph 1, the United States of America could withdraw from the Paris Agreement as from today by giving written notification to the Secretary-General,” the UN spokesperson said.

Pompeo said the US approach incorporated the reality of the global energy mix and used all energy sources and technologies cleanly and efficiently, including fossil fuels, nuclear energy and renewable energy. PTI