UAE campaigners have said the fight against climate change must go on, after the administration of US president Donald Trump yesterday said it would roll back commitments under the landmark Paris Agreement.
The UAE, along with 195 other countries, agreed in 2015 to implement federal laws that reduce their carbon emissions by moving to cleaner energy resources.
The move by the Trump administration includes steps to dismantle the Clean Power Plan, a key component of US’s country’s plan to deliver on its greenhouse gas emissions reduction commitments.
“Regardless of these actions from the USA, the world, including the UAE, is moving ahead to implement its commitments to the Paris Agreement,” said Tanzeed Alam, climate and energy director at the Emirates Wildlife Society in association with the World Wildlife Fund (EWS-WWF).
“Inaction and lack of leadership is not an option – we are all vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, as shown by our recent report on climate change risks to the UAE.”
Mr Alam said the US stepping down is an opportunity for the UAE to lead in the GCC region by encouraging major oil producers to prioritise action on climate change.
However, the US decision to dismantle the emissions cap on the world’s second-largest contributor to climate change will be a significant blow to the commitment to achieving the goals of Paris Agreement.
“Hampering the US’ ability to deliver on its international climate commitments will effect the world’s climate trajectory, but it will not define its outcome,” said the WWF’s global climate and energy practice leader, Manuel-Pulgar Vidal.
Their ability to achieve the promise of the Paris Agreement does not rest on the actions of one government alone, he said.
At the climate change conference Cop 22, held in Marrakech last year, French president Francois Hollande said the Paris Agreement is an “irreversible” process.
The speed and scale of meeting the climate challenge has always required global solutions from all parts of the international community, said Mr Vidal.
“The leading nations of the world have come together in recent years to face the threat of climate change and to create the millions of new jobs needed for a renewable energy economy,” said Carter Roberts, president and chief executive of the WWF-US.
“Leadership from the United States proved critical in this success.”
In fact, the decision to roll back will be likely to affect 3.3 million Americans who are employed in building low-carbon vehicles, cutting energy waste and providing clean energy to communities.
That is more than all US jobs from fossil fuels combined, he said.
“Rolling back US commitments to cut carbon pollution not only harms the futures of our children and grandchildren, it undercuts our ability to compete in the massive growth in demand for renewable energy around the world,” he said.
As recent polling by Yale University showed the majority of Americans support the pollution cuts from coal plants.
“We strongly urge president Trump and his administration to develop a clear and effective plan to meet our international commitments and safeguard our economy,” he said.
“We urge them to protect the American people and our communities as required under the Clean Air Act.”
nalwasmi@thenational.ae