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Turkey has called on other signatory countries of the Paris climate deal to continue the fight against climate change following the U.S withdrawal from the accord.
“We hope that the other countries will not follow Trump saying, 'If USA did it, I will also do it.’ If they follow [him], this will cause the Paris deal to collapse,” Mehmet Emin Birpınar, Turkey’s chief negotiator for climate change talks, told Anadolu Agency on Friday.
The Paris Agreement, spearheaded by Trump's predecessor, Barack Obama and Chinese President Xi Jinping, and signed by 195 countries in April 2016, aims to fight climate change by reducing carbon emissions and limiting global temperature rise to below 2 degrees Celsius.
President Donald Trump on Thursday pulled the U.S. out of an historic accord aimed at combating climate change, breaking with the overwhelming majority of the world's countries.The accord is "the latest example of Washington entering into an agreement that disadvantages the United States to the exclusive benefit of other countries", Trump told the American public from the Rose Garden."In order to fulfill my solemn duty to protect America and its citizens, the United States will withdraw from the Paris Climate Accord," he said to applause, "but begin negotiations to re-enter either the Paris Accord, or an really entirely new transaction on terms that are fair to the United States, its businesses, its workers, its people, its tax payers."As part of Trump's decision, the U.S. will immediately halt contributions to the Green Climate Fund, a UN body that helps developing countries adopt climate-friendly policies.Former President Barack Obama, who spearheaded the Paris effort, slammed his successor's decision, saying the countries still within the agreement will "reap the benefits in jobs and industries created."Even in the absence of American leadership; even as this Administration joins a small handful of nations that reject the future; I’m confident that our states, cities, and businesses will step up and do even more to lead the way, and help protect for future generations the one planet we’ve got," he said.The U.S. under Obama was one of 195 original signatories to the Paris Climate accord, which seeks a gradual reduction in global carbon emissions to fight the increased temperatures and destructive weather patterns collectively known as climate change.Scientists warn that a two degree Celsius (3.6 degree Fahrenheit) increase in global temperatures could have dire effects.Opponents of the deal have said it will hamper America's economic growth and cost jobs.Trump said it "handicaps" the U.S. economy "while imposing no meaningful obligations on the world's leading polluters".Washington now joins Syria and Nicaragua as the accord's sole detractors.Scores of U.S. business leaders earlier this week urged Trump to remain in the agreement, including tech savant Elon Musk who sits on Trump's business counsel. Musk said that should Trump choose to renege on the agreement he would have no choice but to step down from the position.He confirmed the move on Twitter shortly after Trump's address, writing "Climate change is real. Leaving Paris is not good for America or the world."During his election campaign Trump called global warming "a hoax" and promised to scrap the agreement.General Electric CEO Jeff Immelt also weighed in saying he is "disappointed with today’s decision on the Paris Agreement."Industry must now lead and not depend on government," he added on Twitter.
Trump withdraws US from Paris climate accord
“If the Paris deal does not work, we cannot reach the targets [established by the agreement]. This will also make the world vulnerable to expected disasters within the coming 100 years,” Birpinar added, calling on all the signatory countries to "take on the responsibility in order to prevent a catastrophe."
On Thursday, U.S. President Donald Trump pulled Washington out of the accord aimed at combating climate change, breaking with the overwhelming majority of the international community.
During his election campaign, Trump called global warming "a hoax" and promised to scrap the agreement and return jobs to the coal industry that is often targeted by environmentalists.
Turkey's complaints
Birpinar also complained about "unfairness" towards Turkey.
As part of the deal, Turkey cannot benefit from international funds, he said.
“During the entire negotiations, we’ve said that this deal was not fair for Turkey and was not compatible with our interests but we’ve taken on the responsibility for the continuation in the fight against climate change. We think that this deal needs to be renegotiated and we need to benefit from international funds in order to do better things.”
According to United Nations,147 countries have ratified the agreement so far.
“We don’t think to ratify this deal by presenting before the Grand National Assembly of Turkey since our problems are resolved," he added.
Turkey was among the states to sign the agreement in New York following the COP21 conference in the French capital in December that saw states pledge to decrease their greenhouse gas emission levels.
Ankara has promised to reduce its emissions by 21 percent over the next 14 years.