Bonn: The European Union (EU) should try and forge new climate alliances in the wake of Washington’s planned exit from the Paris climate treaty, Germany’s state secretary for climate has said.
According to Oman News Agency, Jochen Flasbarth emphasized the importance of countries like Africa, China, India, and Brazil as critical partners for the EU, particularly in the context of the ongoing UN Climate Conference in Bonn. This call to action comes as US President Donald Trump has once again ordered the United States’ withdrawal from the 2015 Paris Agreement, which seeks to limit global warming to below 2 degrees Celsius.
Trump’s decision marks his second withdrawal from the treaty, having first exited during his initial term in office-a move that was later reversed by the Biden administration. Flasbarth noted that despite the federal stance, many US states are resisting Trump’s climate policies and are taking steps to protect the environment independently.
Flasbarth also cautioned against underestimating the US administration’s resolve to diminish its climate protection commitments, highlighting his extensive experience in international climate negotiations.
The UN Climate Conference in Bonn has attracted over 5,000 delegates from nearly every nation, with the aim of setting the stage for the next UN Climate Change Conference in Brazil. Germany’s new conservative-led government, in office since early May, remains committed to advancing climate policy progress, Flasbarth stated.
He further acknowledged that several countries, particularly in the Global South, are either catching up or have surpassed the EU in renewable energy expansion, emphasizing the need for continued and strengthened efforts in climate policy.