US election looms large over UN climate talks

Associated Press

MARRAKECH, Morocco

U.N. climate talks open today against the backdrop of a U.S. election that could have a major impact on America’s role in the global agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Given Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump’s diverging views on climate change and the landmark emissions pact adopted in Paris last year, some countries’ delegates have been unusually blunt about their preferred outcome.

Brazilian Environment Minister Sarney Filho told reporters in a conference call last week he believes American society supports climate action regardless of who becomes the next president.

Clinton backs the climate policies of President Barack Obama’s government, including continued engagement in the Paris Agreement. Trump, meanwhile, has expressed doubts about global warming on social media and said in a speech this year that he would “cancel” the climate deal if elected.

Those comments have raised concerns in other countries about whether the U.S. would ignore its commitments under the agreement – or withdraw from it completely – if Trump were elected.

Asked about Trump’s remarks on the Paris deal, China’s top climate negotiator Xie Zhenhua said “a wise leader” should conform to global development trends.

“If you go against the tide, people will not agree and the economy and the social development of these countries will also be affected,” Xie said earlier this month.

The Obama administration played a key role in making the Paris deal come together, particularly by forming a partnership with China that saw the world’s top two polluters take the lead in global efforts to slash emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases.

Under the Paris deal, the Obama administration pledged to reduce U.S. greenhouse gas emissions by 26-28 percent below 2005 levels by 2025.

In Marrakech, delegates will be working on the details of implementing the Paris deal, such as drafting rules for how to measure and report emissions as well as the financial contributions meant to help poor countries deal with climate change.

Observers of the climate talks said delegates in Marrakech are likely to keep a close eye on the U.S. election.