Ghana’s former President John Mahama has scathingly criticized President Donald Trump’s plans to withdraw the United States from the Paris climate agreement.
Mr. Trump is expected to announce the shocking withdrawal Thursday. The move would be a major break from international partners and would isolate the United States in global efforts to curb global warming.
The decision would put the US at odds with nearly every other nation on earth. It would reflect a major reversal of the Obama administration’s efforts on climate change. And it could trigger further efforts to erode the landmark climate accord.
Trump will announce his decision in the White House Rose Garden at 3 p.m. Thursday, he tweeted. He ended his tweet with: “MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”
“I’m hearing from a lot of people both ways,” he said, as he met with Vietnam’s prime minister in the Oval Office.
The precise mechanism for the withdrawal has not yet been determined, and White House officials cautioned the plans could change until Trump makes his decision public.
Language for the withdrawal was still being prepared Wednesday, and will likely include specific legal conditions crafted by Trump’s administration.
Commenting on the development, Mr. Mahama chastised Mr. Trump for being inward looking saying in a tweet Thursday, June 1, 2017, that “Sacrificing global interest to pander to a narrow domestic political base is eroding US leadership of the world.”
Below are Mr. Mahama’s tweets:
Sacrificing global interest to pander to a narrow domestic political base is eroding US leadership of the world. #ClimateAction
— John Dramani Mahama (@JDMahama) June 1, 2017
We all worked hard to reach the 2015 Paris Climate Change Agreement. US contributes 20% of CO2 pollution in the atmosphere. #ClimateAction
— John Dramani Mahama (@JDMahama) June 1, 2017
From Ghana, Former President JA Kufuor was one of the eminent coordinators at the COP21. #ClimateChangeIsReal
— John Dramani Mahama (@JDMahama) June 1, 2017