Call to Action on Climate Change
Introduction
Former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has urged Donald Trump to rejoin global efforts to combat climate change. The White House claims that climate targets are detrimental to the US and other countries, stating they would have been severely impacted had the US not withdrawn from the Paris Agreement.
The Importance of Global Cooperation
Ban Ki-moon emphasized that the climate crisis affects everyone, regardless of their location. He stated, "The climate crisis doesn’t care where you live. When we live together, we all live. When we die, we all die together." He also expressed regret over the US withdrawal from the Paris Agreement, calling it "deeply regrettable" that the most powerful and influential country is abandoning the pact.
The Paris Agreement
The Paris Agreement, reached at COP21 in 2015, is the world’s most significant and only legally binding climate treaty. It aims to limit warming to 1.5°C to 2°C above pre-industrial levels and requires countries to produce climate plans every five years detailing how they will meet their part of the agreement. As of now, 108 countries have registered their plans, leaving over a third still missing.
Leadership and Responsibility
Ban Ki-moon stressed that rich Western states, not just America, need to demonstrate stronger leadership and prioritize climate action. He said, "They need to demonstrate their strongest leadership and be a top priority. This is only one Earth we have. We can’t move anywhere else." The United States, as the largest economy and second-largest climate polluter, has a significant role to play in global climate efforts.
The US Position
The White House has been cautious about attending the COP30 climate talks, with President Trump not sending senior officials. A White House spokeswoman stated that the US will not pursue "vague climate goals" that could harm the country’s economic and national security. However, Ban Ki-moon appealed to President Trump, saying, "The whole world is now waiting for the United States to demonstrate its political leadership at this critical time."
