Canete Regrets US Decision but Paris Not Renegotiable

The EU "deeply regrets" the unilateral decision of the US president, Donald Trump, to withdraw the US from the Paris Agreement on climate change, but the 29 articles of the accord are not up for renegotiation.

"It is fit for purpose. It is here to stay," said EU Commissioner for climate action and energy Miguel Arias Canete said June 20.

Addressing the EU Sustainable Energy Week in Brussels, he said he would forge new partnerships with the world's biggest and smallest economies. Following from an EU-China summit in Brussels June 2 a day after the US announcement, he will co-host a major gathering with Chinese and Canadian counterparts to implement Paris and accelerate the clean energy transition, he said.

"We are also reaching out to our partners in the African Union and among the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries with whom we adopted joint statements expressing our common resolve. And we will work hard to have a clear message coming out of the G20 summit in July – or at least from the group of 19 that shares our common goal," added Arias Canete.

He said the EU was putting in place its own ambitious domestic energy and climate change policies and setting the conditions right to steer the necessary investment in the clean energy transition thanks to the Clean Energy Package. 

The EU will help with investments in structural projects, research, and other areas of spending, such as financial instruments. Buildings, energy efficiency and transport including battery-charging infrastructure, and legally-enforceable rules, will all play a part in the transition, he said.

William Powell