“THE EU and all its Member States will not only implement the Paris Agreement, but are building strong global alliances to make sure [it] will be implemented, even after Trump’s decision to step back,” European Union (EU) High Representative, Federica Mogherini, said on Monday.
Ahead of the Foreign Affairs Council, the EU official noted that combatting climate change is a question of security, not a luxury. The Paris Agreement on climate change is “fit for purpose and cannot be renegotiated”, EU foreign affairs ministers stated in the Council Conclusions adopted in Luxembourg. The EU “deeply regrets the unilateral decision by the United States Administration to withdraw from the Paris Agreement” and welcomes the strong show of support for the deal by other countries around the world.
“The European Union and its Member States remain united and absolutely committed to full and swift implementation of the Paris Agreement”, read the Conclusions, recalling also “the particular responsibility of major economies, accounting for some 80% of global emissions” to deliver on “our collective responsibility towards the entire planet, for this and future generations”.
“The world can continue to count on the EU for leadership in the global fight against climate change”, the ministers affirmed, noting the EU’s commitment to mobilise its share of the USD 100 billion per year for climate action in developing countries by 2020, as well as its quest to build and strengthen partnerships to combat climate change, including with a variety of stakeholders in the US. “We see in the United States many, from businesses to local authorities, who are determined to live up to the commitments taken in Paris,” noted Mogherini, adding that the EU would support all those international partners who understand the reality and priority of tackling climate change.
Only recently the Guyana Government said it remains committed to the Paris Agreement on Climate Change which it signed on to in 2016, and maintains that climate change remains a high priority for government. The Paris Agreement is an agreement within the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) which deals with greenhouse gas emissions mitigation, adaptation and finance, starting in the year 2020.
Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, at a post -Cabinet press briefing had reaffirmed Guyana’s commitment to the Paris Agreement in comments on the United States withdrawal from that agreement. Harmon noted that the impact of global warming is already being felt in Guyana, particularly in the hinterland, as he referenced the recent severe flooding which took place in Regions 7 (Cuyuni/Mazaruni) & 8 (Potaro/Siparuni) two weeks ago. “For many people in our hinterland (climate change) is a way of life. They’ve actually come around to understanding that climate change will affect their daily lives and their livelihood.”
In 2015, Guyana was among 195 countries which committed to fighting the effects of climate change and adapt to its effects by signing onto the Paris Agreement under the UNFCCC. Guyana was the 17th country to deposit its instrument of ratification of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. The Paris Agreement has been hailed as providing a historic opportunity for the global community to respond to the challenge of climate change in an appropriate manner. Efforts to combat climate change and its impacts are of particular importance for low-lying coastal developing states like Guyana. The early ratification of the Paris Agreement is consistent with the stated commitment of the Government of Guyana (GoG) to strong action towards the mitigation of, and adaptation to, climate change.
Meanwhile, Harmon had described the withdrawal of the US from the Agreement as “unfortunate” while noting that “the rest of the world is going in a certain direction.” He said going forward the international community will now have to “regroup and have a fresh look” at their commitments under the Paris Agreement. In keeping with its pursuit of a low carbon and green growth trajectory of sustainable development, Guyana’s contribution will be especially focused on the preservation and sustainable management of its forests, and increased reliance on renewable sources of energy.