US to leave Paris climate accord: Trump
BBC, London
The US will definitely withdraw from the Paris climate agreement, President Trump has confirmed. He made the announcement at an energy conference in Pittsburgh on a stage flanked by men in hard hats. He described the accord as a bad deal and said his pro fossil fuel policies had made the US an energy superpower.
The earliest he can formally start the process of withdrawing the US from the Paris accord is 4 November.
The pull-out will take effect a year later - the day after the 2020 US presidential election assuming that Mr Trump is re-elected.
The Paris agreement brought together 195 nations in the battle to combat climate change.
It committed the US to cutting greenhouse gases up to 28% by 2025 based on 2005 levels.
President Trump said if he couldnt improve that deal hed pull out, but diplomatic sources said theres been no major effort at renegotiation.
In the meantime, the presidents staff have conducted what critics call a seek-and-destroy mission through US environmental legislation.
Mr Trump promised that hed turn the US into an energy superpower, and hes attempting to sweep away a raft of pollution legislation to reduce the cost of producing
gas, oil and coal. He categorised former US President Barack Obamas environmental clean-up plans as a war on American energy. The gas and oil industries are indeed thriving, but Mr Trumps pledge to resurrect the coal industry has proved much more challenging.
Coal cant compete on price with gas - or, for that matter, with renewables whose costs have plummeted.
Firms are also reluctant to invest billions in coal-fired plants which could have a limited life if the next administration rejoins the rest of the world on climate change.
As coal is the dirtiest fuel, the industrys woes have held down US emissions, despite the Presidents policies.
Whats more, many US states, cities and businesses remain committed to the Paris Agreement, whatever Mr Trump does.
