June 6, 2017: The Paris Agreement represents an unprecedented global consensus on an issue of extreme urgency – a collective agreement by the world’s governments to do what is needed to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius. The decision to withdraw the U.S. from the Agreement signals that the Trump administration is in total discord with the rest of the world. “President Trump’s about-turn on the Paris accord should serve as a wakeup call for Africans to start taking climate change into their own hands. If those that pollute the world’s environment are not willing to step up and help clean it, we Africans must roll up our sleeves and do it ourselves.” Said Kaddu Sebunya, president of the African Wildlife Foundation.
Many countries including Tanzania depend on U.S. funds to help them finance climate action and adapt to the impacts they are already experiencing from climate change. Many of these countries, and the global institutions built to direct funds to them, will feel the pain of Trump’s promises to slash climate funding. However, this is an area where other countries will have to move in to fill the gap.
“As Climate Change and its impacts continue to affect Tanzanian communities, more climate data show that in the future more community livelihoods will be affected badly. This is why we are very much concerned on Trump’s decisions towards Paris Agreement. We strongly welcome united world leaders who are committed not to pull out their countries and will not withdraw their commitments, statements and voices from all other goals, policies and actions related to climate change. This is because, unlike the view of the current US administration, scientists all over the world see the Paris Agreement as an engine for green growth and jobs. Tanzania has high chance to benefit more from the Paris Agreement where many countries of the world are focused to do more,” said Sixbert Mwanga, Director, Climate Action Network (CAN) Tanzania Although the U.S. has decided to pull out of the Agreement, its ambition raising mechanisms remain in place and a clear direction has been set. Signatory countries’ climate pledges will continue to grow more and more ambitious over time to meet the scale of the challenge, with no backtracking. “The world’s biggest historic emitter walking away from its climate change commitments is gravely unjust, but we must respond by redoubling our efforts. Those on the front lines of climate change demand nothing less,” said Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director, Oxfam International