US formally quits global climate change pact

The US on Wednesday formally left the global pact forged five years ago to avert the threat of catastrophic climate change.

US President Donald Trump triggered his country’s departure from the Paris Agreement a year ago but leaves 189 countries committed to curbing global warming.

The outcome of the US election could see one of the world’s largest polluters swiftly sign back up to its hard-won commitments from 2015. Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden has said he favours re-joining.

The agreement aims to keep the increase in average temperatures worldwide “well below” 2°C and ideally no more than 1.5°C compared to pre-industrial levels. A further six countries have signed, but not ratified the pact.

Scientists say that any rise beyond 2°C could have a devastating impact on large parts of the world, raising sea levels, stoking tropical storms and worsening droughts and floods.

The Paris accord requires countries to set their own voluntary targets for reducing greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide. The only binding requirement is that nations have to accurately report on their efforts.

The US is the world’s second biggest emitter after China of heat-trapping gases such as carbon dioxide and its contribution to cutting emissions is seen as important, but it is not alone in the effort.

In recent weeks, China, Japan and South Korea have joined the European Union and several other countries in setting national deadlines to stop pumping more greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

The German government said it was “highly regrettable” that the US had left the pact.

“It's all the more important that Europe, the EU and Germany lead by example,” said government spokesman Steffen Seibert, citing the EU's goal of becoming the first climate neutral continent by 2050.

While the Trump administration has shunned federal measures to cut emissions, the spokesman noted that US states, cities and businesses have pressed ahead with their own efforts.