Global Efforts Against Climate Change Could Survive Trump Presidency in US

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The 2015 Paris accord and further efforts to combat global warming’s effects will proceed with or without US participation because clean energy is a priority for big and small countries alike, Department of State Special Envoy for Climate Change Jonathan Pershing told reporters in a conference call Thursday.

“They have identified things that meet multiple purposes and I don’t think the US dynamic is the key,” Pershing said, referring to other countries. “I think it’s the domestic agenda.”

Although he avoided mentioning US presidential candidate Donald Trump by name, Pershing was responding to a question premised on a Trump victory in next week’s election. The Republican nominee has pledged to withdraw the United States from the United Nations-backed Paris agreement if elected.

Pershing explained that large countries such as China and Brazil, small countries including Costa Rica, and poorer countries such as Nigeria and Senegal are all prioritizing development of clean energy for reasons beyond the threat of global warming.

For example, he said, because solar panels are the cheapest way to generate power, countries have an incentive to use electric cars because doing so reduces the need to import oil.

In addition, nations have good reasons to manage forests because of their impact on local water quality, Pershing pointed out.