Legarda blasts US pullout from Paris climate pact

Sen. Loren Legarda. (File photo by RICHARD A. REYES / Philippine Daily Inquirer)

US President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw from the Paris Agreement on Climate Change “reeks of ignorance and condemns US foreign policy into infamy,” Senator Loren Legarda said on Friday.

“I cannot, in good conscience, support a deal that punishes the United States,” Trump said as he announced America’s withdrawal from the 2015 accord entered into by his predecessor, former President Barack Obama.

READ: Trump announces US withdrawal from Paris climate deal

“It is unfortunate that Mr. Trump decided to pull out from the Paris Agreement. The decision reeks of ignorance and condemns US foreign policy into infamy. It is truly a sad day, but we are not hopeless,” Legarda, chair of the Senate committee on climate change, said in a statement.

“The way forward is for US cities and states to enforce it. Americans are even eager to do their share. They can continue to demand from their leaders and lead themselves. The private sector can be the game changer,” she said, adding that the shift toward low-carbon, resilient economy was underway.

“There’s no turning back especially for leaders who are enlightened, for nations who understand the risks of inaction to their people,” the senator further said.

Despite the US’ withdrawal from the agreement, Legarda said the rest of the world will continue to find ways of solving the climate crisis “because for vulnerable countries like the Philippines, this is a matter of survival.”

READ: Trump plan to withdraw from Paris Agreement ‘disturbing’—PH envi group

She said countries supporting the Paris Agreement as well as industry leaders and even the financial markets were uniting toward stronger climate action.

“It is morally just and offers the planet the prospect of continued economic progress. We need to work harder together for the sake of our only planet and the future generations,” said Legarda.

Trump said the United States would cease all implementation of the “non-binding” Paris accord and the “draconian financial and economic burdens” that it imposes on their country.

“We’re getting out but we’ll start to negotiate and we will see if we can make a deal that’s fair. And if we can, that’s great. And if we can’t, that’s fine,” Trump said. JPV/rga