The Paris Agreement is a legally binding international treaty on climate change. Picture: File
The South African Minister of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment, Dr. Dion George, expressed deep regret over president Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw the United States from the Paris Agreement and has urged the U.S. Administration to reconsider their decision.
He emphasized the Paris Agreement's importance as a landmark global effort to combat climate change, built on shared responsibility and tailored support for nations based on their historical emissions and capabilities.
The Paris Agreement according to their website is a legally binding international treaty on climate change, adopted by 196 Parties at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP21) in Paris on 12 December 2015, and it entered into force on 4 November 2016.
Its overarching goal is to hold “the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels” and pursue efforts “to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.”
The Agreement relies on global cooperation to avoid severe climate impacts like rising sea levels, extreme weather, and biodiversity loss.
By ratifying the Agreement, nations commit to long-term efforts to protect the planet while promoting sustainable development and addressing the needs of vulnerable populations.
George explained that the United States is vital to South Africa and the global success of the Paris Agreement due to its historical and ongoing contributions to climate change, financial and technical support, leadership in innovation, and influence on global climate policy.
“Americans have a pressing moral obligation, not only to lead in reducing emissions but to support developing economies in contributing to the global effort, and to provide support to poor countries experiencing the impacts of climate change,” George said.
While George urged the U.S. to reconsider, David Le Page, the coordinator of Fossil Free South Africa, offered a starker view.
He described the U.S. withdrawal as troubling, yet reflective of a broader reality.
According to Le Page, the U.S. under Joe Biden has greatly fuelled up fossil energy," highlighting how the U.S. continues to prioritize fossil fuels, despite its involvement in the Paris Agreement.
He argued that the U.S. is essentially behaving like a "Petro State," with the political economy heavily influenced by the fossil fuel industry.
Le Page further emphasized that although initiatives like the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act have boosted renewable energy investments, the country under Biden remained largely a petrostate.
He also noted that while the U.S. withdrew from the Paris Agreement, there are no legal consequences within the Agreement framework, which, in his view, severely undermines its effectiveness. Le Page bluntly stated, "The Paris Agreement is effectively dead."
Le Page’s frustration underscores the urgency for concrete action, both globally and locally.
“For any meaningful progress, we need to see immediate short-term emissions cuts from businesses and the South African government in a just transition.”
He also raised concerns about job losses due to climate change impacts, urging governments to take the issue seriously. Le Page sees the U.S. withdrawal not as an immediate threat to South Africa, but as a symbol of the ongoing global struggle to transition away from fossil fuels.
He pointed out that the world has already exceeded climate targets in the past year, further highlighting the failure to meet critical climate goals.
In response, George acknowledged the continuing efforts of U.S. citizens and non-state actors to address the climate crisis.
“We recall the substantial contribution that previous administrations have made to South Africa’s efforts to address climate change,” he said. This includes initiatives like the Just Energy Transition Partnership, which aims to move away from coal dependence.
Additionally, the U.S. is a leader in climate-related technology, innovation, and research, which are essential for South Africa’s low-carbon transition.
As a major economy, the United States' commitment sets a global example and reinforces international cooperation.
However, its withdrawal undermines trust and multilateral efforts.
In response, South Africa reaffirmed its commitment to the Paris Agreement and called for immediate global action to curb climate change, especially as the world faces worsening impacts, including breaching the critical 1.5°C warming threshold.
“We urge the current Administration to take its commitments under international law seriously, and carefully consider the ramifications of its intended withdrawal from the Paris Agreement,” said Minister George.
tracy-lynn.ruiters@inl.co.za
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