Rabat – Following United States president Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw his country from the Paris Agreements on climate change, the president of the 22nd Conference of the Parties (COP22) has expressed his “deep disappointment” but noted that collective efforts to fight climate change will continue.
In a statement issued Friday, COP22 president Salaheddine Mezouar affirmed that the agreement is a “fruit of a long historical collaboration between all stakeholders,” and that, “despite Trump’s decision, the dynamics of climate action remain undeniable and irreversible.”
“The Nations of the world, State and non-State actors, Governments, civil society, businesses, NGOs, cities and universities are already fully committed in the transition to a future of clean and sustainable, rich in jobs and economic opportunities, while being respectful of the environment,” said Mezouar.
Mezouar continued saying that all the stakeholders will continue to make efforts for the implementation of the Paris accords as confirmed in the Marrakesh Declaration, where Morocco hosted COP 22 in November 2016.
“We reaffirm our stronger commitment than ever before, and will continue to work collectively for climate and sustainable development, particularly […] for future of our children and our planet,” Mezouar concluded.
In a speech from the White House on Thursday, Trump said, “We’re getting out. We don’t want other leaders and other countries laughing at us any more. And they won’t be.”
Trump’s statements recalled his message when he was elected president in November, saying the Paris accord would affect the US economy, eliminate jobs, and put the US at perpetual disadvantage to the other countries.
“The Paris climate accord is simply the latest example of Washington entering into an agreement that disadvantages the United States, to the exclusive benefit of other countries, leaving American workers, who I love, and taxpayers to absorb the cost in terms of lost jobs, lower wages, shuttered factories and vastly diminished economic production,” he said.
