European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has stated that Europe will stay the course of the Paris Agreement, noting that it is the best hope for humanity.
Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Von der Leyen made this statement on Tuesday, as an indirect response to Donald Trump’s withdrawal from the Paris Agreement, declaring the climate accord a lifeline for the world.
“The Paris Agreement continues to be the best hope for all humanity. So Europe will stay the course, and keep working with all nations that want to protect nature and stop global warming,” she said
The remarks came hours after Trump signed an executive order on Monday that commanded the United States’ withdrawal from the 2015 Paris deal and all other deals and agreements signed under the auspices of the United Nations climate convention. The order also put an immediate end to American climate finance support for developing countries.
Von der Leyen also said devastating recent disasters in the US including hurricanes and fires, were evidence that “all continents will have to speed up the transition toward net zero.”
She noted that she even faces growing calls from within her center-right party to water down the EU’s climate change legislation.
Despite this, she declared “Climate change is still on top of the global agenda.”
Chioma Kalu
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