The silver lining in Trump’s Paris pullout: A chance for the EU and China to take the leadership mantle

Donald Trump’s decision to pull the United States out of the Paris Climate Agreement on the 1 June 2017 produced a strong reaction from European leaders. Charles F. Parker argues the decision may provide an opportunity for the EU to strengthen its climate change leadership by forging an alliance with China. He suggests that there were several silver linings to the US withdrawal, but the EU will have to translate its rhetoric into concrete action if it is to reclaim leadership over the issue.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: EU-China summit, Brussels, 1-2 June 2017 http://www.europeansources.info/record/eu-china-summit-brussels-1-2-june-2017/

ESO: Paris Climate Change Conference, November-December 2015 http://www.europeansources.info/record/paris-climate-change-conference-november-december-2015/

ESO: Find further information in ESO on COP21 http://www.europeansources.info/advSearchLink?keyword=cop21%20paris%202015%20climate%20&searchOption=all

EU: EEAS: News, 02.06.17: The European Union will stick to the implementation of the Paris Agreement. HRVP Mogherini and all the EU institutions united and reconfirmed their commitment to fight climate change after the US administration decided to withdraw from the deal https://eeas.europa.eu/headquarters/headquarters-homepage/27424/eu-officials-vow-paris-will-endure_en

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