The US’s second withdrawal from the Paris Agreement is an “abdication of the global responsibility” shared by nations, forestry, fisheries and the environment minister Dr Dion George said on Thursday.
“The US played an important role in the negotiation of the Paris Agreement, and the withdrawal is not only an abdication of the global responsibility that we all have to humankind but damaging to multilateralism, international law and carefully built trust between nations,” George said.
The Paris Agreement, a landmark international accord, aims to limit the global temperature rise to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. SA is also a signatory.
In a statement, George described the agreement as “the most flexible and dynamic approach to addressing climate change”.
“The international community regards climate change as the single biggest threat to wellbeing, health and socioeconomic development currently facing humanity,” he said.
The US withdrawal stems from an executive order signed by President Donald Trump on his inauguration day on Monday.
While the decision is controversial, it is consistent with his first term and recent election campaign rhetoric, which included slogans such as “Drill, baby, drill,” underscoring his administration’s prioritisation of fossil fuel production.
This move is a significant setback for developing countries like SA that rely on developed nations to provide climate finance for mitigation and adaptation efforts.
“Americans have a pressing moral obligation not only to lead in reducing emissions but to support developing economies in contributing to the global effort, and to provide support to poor countries experiencing the effects of climate change,” George said.
The ripple effects of the US departure from the Paris Agreement could affect institutions such as the World Bank, where the US is the largest shareholder. These institutions play a critical role in financing renewable energy projects.
Adding to the complexity, US financial giant JPMorgan recently confirmed to BusinessLIVE that it had withdrawn from the Net Zero Banking Alliance (NZBA), following in the footsteps of Bank of America, Citigroup and others.
According to Bloomberg, these decisions are influenced by mounting Republican opposition to “woke capitalism”.
While the effect of the NZBA withdrawals on SA remains unclear, a climate expert explained to BusinessLIVE that such moves “send the wrong message”.
Beyond finance, emerging economies rely on developed nations to lead and influence global climate action including pressuring less-committed nations.
In November, the shadow of Trump’s re-election also loomed over COP29, held in Baku, Azerbaijan.
“The US has committed to do so, most recently at COP 29, and its recently communicated mitigation target for 2035. It appears now that these commitments will not be upheld. We hope that this is not the case,” George said.
George, alongside his Norwegian counterpart, Tore Sandvik, led climate mitigation negotiations ahead of, and during, COP29.
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