Commenting on reports that President Donald Trump is poised to pull out of the Paris Agreement on Climate Tearfund’s Head of Advocacy Paul Cook said:
“We are distressed to hear the reports that President Trump may be about to pull the US out of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.
“World leaders need to uphold their commitments to prevent lives and livelihoods being hit hard by an unstable and changing climate. We are seeing over 16 million people facing starvation in the third year of drought in South Sudan and Ethiopia and a couple of years ago parts of the Philippines were devastated by a record breaking typhoon.
“It is disappointing that President Trump does not see the opportunity for economic growth which clean energy presents - emerging economies such as China and India are discovering how renewable energy can be a catalyst for a booming economy, creating green jobs and flourishing businesses, while reducing carbon emissions.
“Now, more than ever, we need to unite in our personal commitment to living sustainably. We’ve already seen hundreds of people across the UK switch to renewable electricity in their homes through the Big Church Switch and it’s essential we continue to bolster the international community’s efforts towards a cleaner and brighter future.
“We should be encouraged that only a few days ago the other six members of the G7 reaffirmed their strong commitment to tackle climate change and we look forward to the G20 meeting in July with anticipation those leaders will do the same and provide the global leadership the world is waiting for.”
Ends
Notes for Editors
- For more information and interviews please contact Tearfund’s Antony Bushfield on 07929335146 or email [email protected].
- At the Paris climate conference (COP21) in December 2015, 195 countries adopted the first-ever universal, legally binding global climate deal which sets out a global action plan which begins to put the world on track to avoid dangerous climate change by limiting global warming, and to move to zero greenhouse gas emissions.
- Tearfund is a Christian relief and development agency and a member of the Disasters Emergency Committee www.tearfund.org
