California, New York, Washington unite to back climate pact

President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw the United States from the Paris Agreement on tackling climate change has been labelled “an act of vandalism” and “irresponsible”.

The decision amounts to a rebuttal of the worldwide effort to pressure Trump to remain a part of the agreement, which 195 nations signed onto. Climate change is real.

Meanwhile, China, the world’s largest carbon emitter, has said it will stick by its commitments to the Paris agreement, despite the United States moves.

Innovator Elon Musk, the owner of Tesla, SpaceX and the Hyperloop, now made a decision to quit his position as presidential adviser due to Trump’s ignorant stance on the scientifically proven fact that climate change is man-made.

US President Donald Trump has withdrawn America from the 2015 Paris climate deal, fulfilling an election campaign promise, but sparking global alarm and condemnation.

“As a matter of principle, I’ve resigned from the President’s Council over the #ParisAgreement withdrawal”, Iger said. The business community, including multinational corporations, investors and insurance groups, are constructively engaged in climate action.

And although China remains heavily reliant on coal and pollution is a persistent problem for its 1.3 billion citizens, the country’s communist rulers say they’re determined to institute fundamental change.

“I believe the United States of America should be at the front of the pack”, said Obama, according to the Examiner.

China will soon “be launching what will be the world’s largest cap-and-trade system for carbon, and they have very aggressive domestic clean energy targets”.

He added: “At this moment, when climate change is already causing devastating harm around the world, we do not have the moral right to turn our backs on efforts to preserve this planet for future generations”. Moreover, these two countries, China especially, are taking up leadership role, as the USA cedes the one it formerly occupied.

Musk had threatened to do so prior to Trump’s announcement.

A few hours earler, Tesla CEO Elon Musk said he would quit the same panel.

Yet at the same time, China’s outsized carbon footprint, like its protectionist policies, places it in a position to make change with global ramifications – and on climate, signs have been gathering that Mr. Li’s assurances were more than empty words.

Trump, who has governed with an “American First” policy, said Thursday he was carrying out the will of the voters who propelled him to the White House. The president also said he would start talks to re-enter the accord with what he called a more “fair” deal, but that idea was immediately shot down by several European governments.

Criticism of his decision rolled in from blue-chip companies like Facebook, Apple and Microsoft.

The US produces some 15 percent of the world’s emissions. “If we can’t, that’s fine”, Trump said.

He adding that his group had described to administration officials the benefits of remaining in the agreement.

Meanwhile, 61 mayors from across the US – including Mayor Bill de Blasio – announced a pledge to adopt and uphold the Paris accord goals.

A number of its members, including Exxon Mobil and ConocoPhillips, had publicly supported the deal.

He said that New Delhi would get billions of dollars for meeting its commitment under the Paris Agreement and it along with Beijing would double its coal-fired power plants in the years to come, gaining a financial advantage over the United States.

I fully support @POTUS’ decision on the #ParisAccord.

But traditional U.S. allies were uncharacteristically blunt in their condemnation of Trump’s decision, which comes amid already strained relationships with the hard-charging new president. Trump harbours, by all accounts, a disdain for global law, a dislike of being lectured by other world leaders, and a churlish desire to dismantle Barack Obama’s legacy.

Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke said Wednesday in Alaska that he had “yet to read what the actual Paris Agreement is”, and would have to read it before weighing in. “Industry must now lead and not depend on government”, tweeted General Electric CEO Jeff Immelt.