Cheers! This is why Trump was elected! G6 leaders break with Trump, move forward on ‘climate action’

G6 leaders break with Trump, move forward on climate action

https://thinkprogress.org/g7-trump-climate-change-plastics-004b1a4d7192/

Leaders representing six of the world’s most powerful economies committed to addressing climate change and environmental crises at the conclusion of this year’s Group of Seven (G7) summit over the weekend. But the United States made no such agreement, as President Trump doubled down on both his opposition to international climate efforts and his support for fossil fuels. After weeks of controversy, the G7 summit in La Malbaie, Quebec ended in a bitter war of words on Saturday, pitting the United States against key allies. Germany, France, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and host Canada all reaffirmed their commitment to the targets set by the landmark 2016 Paris climate agreement, But Trump, who announced U.S. plans to withdraw from the Paris agreement in June 2017, backed out of the communique which reiterates the agreements reached by all parties at the summit’s conclusion.

“Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK and the European Union reaffirm their strong commitment to implement the Paris Agreement, through ambitious climate action,” read the statement, without any mention of the United States. It goes on to champion “reducing emissions”, “strengthening and financing resilience and reducing vulnerability”, and “increasing efforts to mobilize climate finance”, among other highlights. The United States on the other hand offered a separate paragraph promoting fossil fuels. “The United States will endeavour to work closely with other countries to help them access and use fossil fuels more cleanly and efficiently and help deploy renewable and other clean energy sources, given the importance of energy access and security in their Nationally Determined Contributions,” that statement read. The Trump administration has largely promoted fossil fuels domestically, encouraging investment in oil and gas, while steering away from renewables. In yet another effort to bail-out the dying coal industry, the president ordered the Department of Energy last month to look into forcing grid operators to purchase electricity from coal plants. Trump will miss G7 climate change meeting following spat with Macron and Trudeau The president will leave Quebec early, underscoring U.S. isolation from global climate leadership.

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