Commenting on President Donald Trump confirming the US is pulling out of the Paris climate agreement, Tearfund’s Head of Advocacy, Paul Cook said:
“President Trump is walking away from the US’s international responsibility, while other world leaders take a stand.
“This decision is a worrisome setback for all those who have campaigned long and hard to see real change for the world’s most vulnerable people.
“We welcome the resoluteness of other world leaders in reaffirming their commitment to the Paris Agreement. It is crucial that these leaders turn their pledges into reality, to prevent lives and livelihoods being hit hard by an unstable and changing climate.
“Right now we have more than 16 million people on the brink of starvation, in the third year of drought in South Sudan and Ethiopia, and only a few years ago parts of the Philippines were devastated by a record-breaking typhoon.
”Not only has the President shown complete disregard for the millions of people who are suffering at the hand of climate change, he has also missed a key opportunity to boost economic growth through innovative clean energy solutions. Growing 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, in ways like switching to renewable energy, flying less, eating less meat, and continuing to challenge our governments to do more to tackle climate change.”
Ends
Notes for Editors
- For more information and interviews please contact Tearfund’s Antony Bushfield on 07929335146 or email antony.bushfield@tearfund.org.
- 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
