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Dion George, South Africa’s Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, has expressed his disappointment over the United States’ decision to withdraw from the Paris Agreement. This is a major setback in global efforts to address climate change, he said in his statement.
Paris Agreement, now in its ninth year, has seen advancements but still encounters difficulties. George described the 2015 adoption of the Paris Agreement as a crucial turning point in international cooperation, particularly considering the United States’ earlier exit from the Kyoto Protocol. The agreement, he said, signifies a collective global recognition of the severe climate crisis and the urgent necessity for joint efforts.
“The Paris Agreement represents the most flexible and dynamic approach to addressing climate change,” stated George. “The US played a pivotal role in its negotiation, and their withdrawal signifies not only an abdication of global responsibility but also a blow to multilateralism, international law and the trust painstakingly built between nations.”
The US, having historically been the largest contributor to global emissions, has played a significant role in driving climate change. The country thus has a moral obligation, he said, to pave the way for reduced emissions and help developing nations address the effects of climate change.
The recent commitments made by the US at the 29th Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), including their mitigation targets for 2035, now seem uncertain, the minister added.
He, however, commended US states, towns, scientific institutions, corporations, civic society and citizens for their ongoing efforts to address the climate catastrophe. He specifically recognised the past efforts of former US administrations, especially their backing of South Africa’s Just Energy Transition Partnership.
“We urge the current US administration to honour its commitments under international law and consider the far-reaching implications of its withdrawal from the Paris Agreement,” he added.
George reaffirmed South Africa’s unwavering commitment to the goals of the Paris Agreement and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, stressing the need to innovate and drive sustainable solutions.
The global fight against climate change cannot be delayed, especially as the poorest bear the brunt of it, he stressed.
In 2024, Earth reached some grim milestones, crossing the critical global warming threshold of 1.5 degree Celsius, the minister highlighted. This, he noted, signalled the growing urgency for immediate and robust climate action to prevent increasingly dangerous consequences. “The international community must seize this moment to accelerate collective efforts.”
Other African leaders, such as Jiwoh Abdulai, Sierra Leone’s Minister of Environment, have also expressed their concerns. Similarly, Mohamed Nasheed, the first democratically elected President of the Maldives, has called on the US to resume its leadership role in addressing the climate crisis.