US envoys to parry Paris pact queries

Washington, Aug. 9: US diplomats should sidestep questions from foreign governments on what it would take for the Trump administration to reengage in the global Paris climate agreement, according to a diplomatic cable seen by Reuters.

In the wake of President Donald Trump’s announcement in June that the United States would withdraw from the accord, the cable tells diplomats to expect foreign government representatives to ask questions like: “Does the United States have a climate change policy?” and “Is the administration advocating the use of fossil fuels over renewable energy?”

If asked, for example, “What is the process for consideration of reengagement in the Paris Agreement?”, the answer should be vague: “We are considering a number of

The cable sent by secretary of state Rex Tillerson to US embassies says that diplomats should make it clear the US wants to help other countries use fossil fuels

factors. I do not have any information to share on the nature or timing of the process,” the cable advises.

Trump, a Republican, had campaigned on a promise to “cancel” the Paris deal, saying he believed it would cost the US economy trillions of dollars while leaving developing nations such as China unfettered. In a sharp difference with the previous administration of President Obama, a Democrat, Trump has several times called climate change a hoax.