MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

UN says that action to curb climate change is unstoppable, despite Trump

Ms Espinosa said it would be more damaging for the US to leave the on-going climate talks process altogether than to stop funding the clean energy program.

The UN’s new climate chief admits she’s worried about President Donald Trump – but is confident that action to curb climate change is unstoppable. President Trump said he’d withdraw from the UN climate deal and stop funding the UN’s clean energy program. But former Mexican diplomat Patricia Espinosa said that the delay in any firm announcement suggests the issue is still unresolved.

 Ms Espinosa said it would be more damaging for the US to leave the on-going climate talks process altogether than to stop funding the clean energy program. The US pays approximately US$ 4m towards this program every year, and often an extra US $2m in voluntary funding.

But she said the rest of the world would carry on tackling climate change without the US, if necessary. She said China’s stated willingness to lead the world in curbing emissions might cause US diplomats to ponder the implications of allowing China a role of global moral leadership.

“We are of course worried about rumors that the possibility of the US pulling out of the Paris agreement and the convention on climate change,” she said. “It would be very bad if there were a change of position in the US. That’s why I’m looking forwards to engaging with the US as a partner.”

Ms Espinosa did not explain how the US would be able to remain within the Paris framework whilst scrapping action on its own emissions strategy that helps underpin that process.

But she drew hope from the vast number of firms and cities looking towards a low-carbon future – in the US and round the world: “A lot of US businesses are really going into the agenda of sustainability and some are making their own commitments in emissions reductions in their own operations.”

“An incredible amount of cities have embarked on ambitious goals; some states like California have been for many years in the forefront of this agenda.

“In International Petroleum Week, I was very encouraged to hear how much some of the oil and gas companies are realizing that the future of their industries is in a transformation into clean energy companies - and they have embraced this in their own interest. The transformation has started. I think it’s unstoppable.”

Ms Espinosa smiled at the irony of dealing with Mr. Trump as a Mexican, a woman, and someone who works in climate change. She is anticipating a meeting with the new secretary of state Rex Tillerson. The former CEO of the oil giant Exxon Mobil warned recently that climate change is a genuine risk, and said the US should stay at the table of UN talks.