Bonn Climate Talks Attest Trump Doesn’t Speak for the United States

(BONN, Germany – Nov. 17, 2017) At the first UN climate talks since President Trump announced his intention to withdraw the United States from the Paris Agreement, countries made incremental but meaningful progress. Outside the negotiating rooms, in the U.S. Climate Action Center, a broad coalition of U.S. governors, mayors, business executives, and citizens made clear their commitments to climate action despite the position of the Trump Administration.

“In the same week that we learned global carbon pollution is on the rise again after three flat years, the Trump administration came to Bonn to sell the world on fossil fuels. The good news is that the world wasn’t buying," said Nathaniel Keohane, Vice President for Global Climate, Environmental Defense Fund.

“The story of these climate talks was that however much Donald Trump wants to take us backward on climate change, the rest of the world – and the rest of the U.S. – is intent on moving forward.

“Trump doesn’t speak for America on climate change – not for the majority of U.S. citizens who support action on climate change, nor for the 2,500 cities, counties, states, businesses and universities that have pledged their support for the Paris Agreement goals.”

Progress was made at the talks on such issues as developing the “rulebook” for implementing the Paris Agreement, including a first draft of elements that will be essential to avoiding double counting of emissions reductions and ensuring that all countries report – and are reviewed – on their progress in meeting their emissions targets. Significant work remains if countries hope to complete the rulebook by their agreed deadline at the end of next year.