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links: http://edition.cnn.com/2017/06/01/europe/eu-us-climate/index.html
EU, China unite behind Paris climate deal as Trump mulls US withdrawal
(CNN)European Union leaders and China vowed Thursday to push forward with the Paris Agreement on climate change as the world waits to see whether US President Donald Trump will pull out of the landmark accord.
US is the world's second largest emitter of CO2 00:55
Such a move would be a major break from international partners that would isolate the United States in efforts to curb global warming.
Now EU and Chinese leaders have banded together in an unusual alliance that emphasizes the absence of the United States -- the world's second biggest emitter of carbon dioxide after China -- from the playing field.
Miguel Arias Cañete, EU commissioner on climate action and energy, told CNN in a statement that the two powers "are joining forces to forge ahead on the implementation of the Paris Agreement and accelerate the global transition to clean energy."
"No one should be left behind, but the EU and China have decided to move forward. Our successful cooperation on issues like emissions trading and clean technologies are bearing fruit. Now is the time to further strengthen these ties to keep the wheels turning for ambitious global climate action."
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The two spell out their continued commitment to the deal in a draft joint statement, obtained by CNN, which is slated to be published Friday at an EU-China summit regardless of what Trump announces.
"The EU and China consider climate action and the clean energy transition an imperative more important than ever," the draft statement says, and "commit to significantly intensify their political, technical, economic and scientific cooperation on climate change and clean energy."
The powers also "underline that tackling climate change and reforming our energy systems are significant drivers of job creation, investment opportunities and economic growth," according to the draft statement, which also emphasizes the importance of international collaboration in curbing global warming.
Speaking alongside German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin on Thursday, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said his country had "stayed true to its commitment" in fighting climate change over the past few years, including "promoting the signing of the Paris Agreement."
Li said: "Fighting climate change is a global consensus, not invented by China," an apparent reference to a tweet Trump once made on the subject.
Merkel said she was pleased China was sticking to the Paris climate accord, adding that "the cooperation of the European Union with China in this area will play a crucial role especially in regards to new technologies."
European Council President Donald Tusk made a direct appeal to Trump early Thursday not to pull out of the Paris accord, tweeting "@realDonaldTrump please don't change the (political) climate for the worse."
.@realDonaldTrump please don't change the (political) climate for the worse.— Donald Tusk (@eucopresident) June 1, 2017
Meanwhile, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said China was prepared to fill the leadership vacuum left by the United States if it exits the Paris climate deal.
Speaking Thursday at a European forum in Berlin, Juncker referred to last week's G7 meeting in Taormina, Sicily, saying: "We explained to Mr. Trump in Taormina that it would not be good for the world or the United States if America was to literally step off the world's stage. Because the vacuum will be filled, and the Chinese are in prime position to take on a leadership role."
In a speech the day before, Juncker said world leaders had tried to warn Trump that he could not exit the Paris Agreement -- ratified by the United States last year -- overnight. "It seems this attempt did not succeed, but the law is the law. And everyone has to stick to it," he said.
He added: "We are not only talking about the future of European people, we are first and foremost talking about the future of people elsewhere. Eighty-three countries are in danger of disappearing from the face of the Earth if we do not begin combating climate change in a resolute way."
Collective future
What happens if Trump quits climate accord? 03:17
"You know that President (Vladimir) Putin signed this convention, Russia pays a lot of attention (to that)," Peskov said. "Of course the effectiveness of implementing this convention without the key participants, perhaps, will be hindered. But there is no alternative as of now."
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told reporters that Trump's announcement was "obviously a very important decision" since the United States is the world's biggest economy, but that it was vital also that other nations stay the course.
"The Paris Agreement is essential for our collective future," he said, urging civil society and businesses also to play a role.
G7 leaders dismayed
Trump tweeted late Wednesday that he would announce his decision at 3 p.m. ET Thursday in the White House Rose Garden, ending his message with "MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!"
I will be announcing my decision on Paris Accord, Thursday at 3:00 P.M. The White House Rose Garden. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 1, 2017
Even if he does opt for withdrawal, it likely won't be a quick, overnight process. The exit could take as long as one to almost four years.
The White House was initially slated to make a final decision on the climate accord last month but then said it would wait until after the G7 meeting.
Former EPA head: Climate deal makes economic sense09:19
At the summit, leaders expressed dismay at Trump's climate stance. After the meetings concluded, the United States refused to sign onto a statement of support for the Paris accord that all other G7 participants approved.
The Paris climate agreement was established during a 2015 conference in the French capital. Every nation signed on minus two: war-torn Syria and Nicaragua, which insists the deal isn't tough enough.
In signing onto the accord, countries pledged to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but were given wide leeway in how much they planned to reduce them by.
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