Commentary

Paris accord withdrawal a ‘stupid’ decision

US President Donald Trump, while he was campaigning for president, called the Paris climate accord a "terrible deal" made by "stupid people." On June 1, Trump announced he was withdrawing the United States from the agreement. Prior to his announcement, 195 United Nations member countries signed the Paris accord, 147 of which have ratified it.

There were only two countries - Nicaragua and Syria - that were not part of the accord, and now the US becomes the third.

Even the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (commonly known as North Korea) signed the accord.

"We don't want other leaders and other countries laughing at us anymore, and they won't be," said Trump in the Rose garden outside the White House, in part.

Many world leaders implored Trump not to withdraw the US from the accord, including UN secretary-general, Antonio Guterres.

The UN chief warned that withdrawal from the agreement would be harmful to the American economy and security.

A Vatican official said “it would be a disaster for everyone” and also a "slap in the face" for the Vatican too. What else can be said? At worse, Trump, by his short-sighted, mean-spirited and some would say “stupid” decision, has placed future inhabitants of our planet at greater risk of economic, social and environmental upheaval and destruction.

At best, Trump has marginalized the US, turning the once great country that landed a man on the moon into an insular and minor force in the affairs of the world.