Syria to join Paris climate pact, isolating US

– ‘Splendid isolation’ –

Openly isolated on the climate issue at G-7 and G-20 meetings earlier this year, the United States said it intended to withdraw “unless the president can identify terms that are more favourable to American businesses, workers, and taxpayers.”

The Trump administration has not said what those terms might be.

“This means Trump is in splendid isolation — no one wants to be in his company,” said Alden Meyer, a veteran climate analyst at the Washington-based Union of Concerned Scientists.

“With Syria on board, now the entire world is resolutely committed to advancing climate action -– all save one country,” said Paula Caballero, director for climate change at the World Resources Institute.

“This should make the Trump administration pause and reflect on their ill-advised announcement about withdrawing from the Paris Agreement.”

Signed in the French capital in December 2015, the treaty entered into force on November 4, 2016.

According to the terms, no country can formally submit their intent to withdraw until three years after the date of entry into force.

It will then take one year to fully withdraw, meaning the earliest the United States could officially withdraw is the day after the 2020 election.

“When even Syria — with all its problems — can see the sense of a global climate agreement, it really shows how ideologically wedded to climate denialism the US Republican Party has become,” said Mohamed Adow, International Climate Lead for Christian Aid.