US Withdrawal from Climate Agreement: COP 22 Pres. Expresses ‘Disappointment’

Rabat  – President of the 22nd Conference of the Parties (COP22) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, Salaheddine Mezouar, expressed “deep disappointment” following the US withdrawal from the Paris climate agreement.

Despite the US decision, the dynamics of climate action remain undeniable and irreversible, he pointed out in a statement, adding that collective efforts to combat climate change will not stop.

“The nations of the world, state and non-state actors, governments, civil society, businesses, NGOs, cities and universities are already fully committed to the transition to a clean and sustainable future, rich in jobs and economic opportunities and respectful of the environment,” Mezouar underlined.

“We will keep our spirit of ambition and collaboration and will continue our efforts for the implementation of the Paris Agreement, which was confirmed in the Marrakech Action Proclamation,” he added.

“Now more than ever, we reaffirm our strong commitment to work collectively for climate and sustainable development, especially for the most vulnerable. The future of our children and our planet depends on it,” Mezouar concluded.

US President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that his country is withdrawing from the 2015 Paris climate agreement.

The Paris agreement commits the US and 187 other countries to keeping rising global temperatures “well below” 2C above pre-industrial levels and “endeavour to limit” them even more, to 1.5C.