GCC will not renegotiate Paris climate deal

Most countries can’t compromise more, says GCC energy official

The Gulf states will not renegotiate the Paris climate agreement signed by nearly 200 countries, delegates said at the World Green Economy Summit in Dubai on Wednesday.

“Pulling out of the Paris Agreement is not easy. Once you’ve signed and ratified it, you have four years to pull out. The US decided to pull out. Most countries, especially in this oil-producing region, can’t compromise more,” said Dr Mohamed Mubarak bin Daina, CEO, Supreme Council for Environment, Bahrain.

US President Donald Trump withdrew his country from the climate accord. On Wednesday, Syria also refused to be a member of the pact.

Aziz Rabbah, minister of energy, mines and sustainable development, Morocco, said: “The Paris Agreement came after long negotiations. We should try to implement the deal.”

Rabbah said many American states, economists and businessmen didn’t agree with the federal government’s decision to pull out of the deal and hoped small compromises would save the agreement from collapsing.

More than a dozen state governors reportedly pledged to continue supporting the Paris deal and go ahead with the policies agreed upon to flight global warming.

Rabbah suggested forming a lobbying group with the participation of GCC, India and other countries. He also recommended to impose conditions on companies involved in public-private partnership projects such as infrastructure, roads and hospitals to ensure they would respect climate change.

Ahmed Al Muhairbi, secretary-general of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, said 700,000 jobs were created in the US green economy industry last year.

— waheedabbas@khaleejtimes.com