As sources signal Trump likely to pull out, all parties must stand together

It is likely that Donald Trump will this week announce the US's intention to leave the Paris climate deal agreed in 2015.

Greens/EFA MEP and member of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety, Bas Eickhout, comments on this decision:

"It is astonishing that Trump is considering pulling out of one of the most important global tasks ahead of us in fighting climate change. Trump's action is both economically and environmentally backward looking. At the latest G7 summit it already became clear how alone Trump stands. Now he is close to pulling out of the Paris Agreement, he chooses to stand together with Syria and Nicaragua. We need all parties to stand together. France and Germany in particular have key roles to play with regard to the next UN climate conference. It’s of critical importance that financial support for the climate fund does not cease.”

Greens/EFA MEP, vice-chair of the Committee on International Trade and member of the Energy Committee, Yannick Jadot, adds:

“This shows how President Trump appears to be going further down the road with an outdated economic model. In today’s world, it is not an option to separate the fight against climate change from the economy. Governments must tackle the two issues hand in hand.

“Instead of throwing millions of dollars into subsidies for coal power, President Trump should take the opportunity to put climate protection in place. This would generate much bigger opportunities for job creation and the economy as a whole."