UK environmental groups call on the next UK Prime Minister to make it clear that the Paris climate change agreement cannot be renegotiated, and that expressing 'disappointment' to US President Trump on failing to ratify the landmark agreement is not enough.
Text of a letter to the next Prime Minister, co-signed by development and environment groups, including Sustain:
"The UK has a proud record of international action on climate change, including introducing the ground-breaking Climate Change Act, and shaping the Paris agreement of 2015. President Trump’s announcement that the US will withdraw from that agreement was rightly met with dismay from heads of states and governments around the world. France, Germany and Italy, in particular, made it clear that they will reject any attempt to derail global efforts to tackle climate change.
UK citizens overwhelmingly support the Paris agreement. Not taking the threat of climate change seriously puts our nation and its children's futures at stake, and it ignores the lives of the world's poorest people who are already paying the price of inaction. For UK businesses, there are large numbers of jobs and significant investments at stake.
Whilst we acknowledge the UK government’s expression of disappointment at President Trump’s decision, the public expect their leaders to have a similar level of clarity and resolve on this issue as other heads of state and government. At the very least, the UK should immediately join the High Ambition Coalition of nations in pledging to ‘fight for the full implementation’ of the deal. The formation of this Coalition was a key success of the Paris negotiations, and one in which the UK played a significant role.
The next UK Prime Minister – whoever that might be – must then use the G20 meeting taking place in less than five weeks, to make it clear that the Paris agreement cannot be renegotiated and that all major polluters should play their part in reducing the risks from climate change. These steps are necessary to demonstrate that the UK remains a responsible global player with an independent voice on the world stage."
Signed by:
- CAFOD
- Christian Aid
- Coalition of Aid and Development Agencies Northern Ireland
- E3G
- Green Alliance
- Greenpeace
- Friends of the Earth
- Friends of the Earth Scotland
- Oxfam
- National Trust
- Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund
- Stop Climate Chaos Cymru
- Stop Climate Chaos Coalition
- The Climate Coalition
- Tearfund
- The Church of Scotland
- National Federation of Women's Institutes
- Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust
- WWF
- Campaign for Better Transport
- Chartered Institute of Wastes Management
- ClientEarth
- Good Energy
- RSPB
- Sustain: The alliance for better food and farming
- The Wildlife Trusts
- UNICEF
- Future Generations Commissioner of Wales
Published Tuesday 6 June 2017
Sustain: Sustain The alliance for better food and farming advocates food and agriculture policies and practices that enhance the health and welfare of people and animals, improve the working and living environment, enrich society and culture and promote equity.
