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U.S. Now A 'Rogue State' After Leaving Paris Agreement, Former U.N. Envoy Says

U.S. Now A 'Rogue State' After Leaving Paris Agreement, Former U.N. Envoy Says

President Donald Trump’s decision to leave the Paris climate agreement has made the U.S. a “rogue state,” the United Nations’ former envoy on climate change warns.

Prominent human rights advocate Mary Robinson, who was also the first female president of Ireland, was appointed as the U.N.’s special envoy for climate change in 2014. She was scathing in her criticism of Trump’s move in a statement issued Thursday.

“The U.S. reneging on its commitment to the Paris Agreement renders it a rogue state on the international stage,” Robinson said. “But the Trump administration’s withdrawal from the Paris Agreement will not stop climate action in the United States. At state level, in cities, in businesses and communities around the country the move away from fossil fuels is well underway. We encourage all actors in the U.S. working to tackle climate change to stand their ground, share the benefits of their work and to keep making their voices heard.”

She issued a similar warning shortly after Trump’s election win in November.

With its departure from the agreement, the U.S. joins Nicaragua and war-torn Syria, which is considered a “rogue state” by the U.S., as the only nations to opt out the climate pledge. (Nicaragua objected to the accord because the country believed it did not go far enough to combat rising global temperatures.)

Meanwhile, three other nations that the U.S. has designated as “rogue” — Iran, North Korea, and Sudan — are all part of the accord.

Trump’s departure from the agreement, which seeks to reduce greenhouse gas emissions worldwide, has drawn sharp criticism from other international leaders. Many of them have vowed to continue the fight against climate change without participation of the U.S.

“To all scientists, engineers, entrepreneurs, responsible citizens who were disappointed by the decision of the president of the United States, I want to say that they will find in France a second homeland,” said French President Emmanuel Macron.

Meanwhile, states and cities across the U.S. have pledged to reduce carbon emissions on their own.

“We will intensify efforts to meet each of our cities’ current climate goals, push for new action to meet the 1.5 degrees Celsius target, and work together to create a 21st century clean energy economy,” the mayors of 61 cities wrote in an open letter on Thursday. “The world cannot wait — and neither will we.”

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