EU ‘regret’ over Trump’s climate policy roll-back

US PRESIDENT Donald Trump’s executive order rolling back Barack Obama’s signature global warming measure stopped short of withdrawing from the historic Paris climate accord – but already raised international concerns on Tuesday about whether the US will now do its share to fight the global threat.

Europe’s top climate official, Commissioner Miguel Arias Cañete, expressed “regret” about Trump’s executive order rolling back what he called the “main pillar” of US climate policy, the Clean Power Plan.

“Now it remains to be seen by which other means the US intends to meet its commitments under the Paris Agreement,” said Cañete.

“Despite all the current geopolitical uncertainties, the world can count on Europe to maintain global leadership in the fight against climate change.”

China also said yesterday that it remained committed to the Paris climate change accord agreed in 2015.

Trump’s main target is former president Obama’s Clean Power Plan, which required states to slash carbon emissions from power plants, a key factor in the US’s ability to meet its commitments under the climate change accord reached by nearly 200 countries in Paris.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang said climate change was a common challenge for everyone and the Paris agreement was a landmark that came about with the hard work of the international community, including China and the US.

The words of Cañete, one of the most prominent figures yet to comment on Trump’s move, signal how the president’s executive order eviscerating Obama’s climate plan is already raising international concerns, and further suggests that the US could be left isolated as other nations push forward to curb emissions.

The concerns about US climate commitments under a Trump presidency could come up in May when diplomats gather for a working group meeting on the Paris climate agreement. – Washington Post and Reuters