Paris Accord: China, EU to announce joint climate plans

While meeting with G7 nations in Italy over the weekend, President Donald Trump did not say he was taking the US out of the Paris Accord.  Twitter photo.

Trump likely bowing out of Paris Accord

European and Chinese leaders will join forces on Friday to voice their strong support for the Paris Accord and present a number of joint plans aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions, according to Reuters.

On Wednesday, sources reported that US President Donald Trump is set to withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement.  Former President Barack Obama signed the agreement in December, 2015.

The pact aims to phase out GHG emissions by the second half of this century and limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.

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During the recent US presidential campaign, then-candidate Trump called global warming a hoax designed to attack US industry.  Sources say he is now working with EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt on the US exit strategy from the pact.

“The EU and China consider climate action and the clean energy transition an imperative more important than ever,” according to the statement to be presented at a meeting of EU and Chinese officials in Brussels on Friday.

Reuters reports China and the EU will work side by side on a joint strategy to reduce GHGs, implement emission trading schemes and promote energy efficiency and the reduction of emissions from maritime transport and aviation.

As well, they will encourage other global leaders to comply with pledges made in the Paris Accord.

“The EU and China consider the Paris Agreement as an historic achievement further accelerating the irreversible global low greenhouse gas emission and climate resilient development,” the statement says.

China and the US are the two biggest emitters of greenhouse gases.