EU Officials Warn of Impact from US Paris Exit

With Donald Trump poised to retake the presidency, concerns are mounting over the potential U.S. exit from the Paris Agreement, which could severely disrupt global climate efforts. EU climate chief Wopke Hoekstra emphasized that such a withdrawal would be a 'serious blow for international climate diplomacy,' as the U.S. is the second-largest global emitter. Trump's transition team is preparing executive orders to withdraw from the agreement, echoing his previous term's actions. Hoekstra indicated that the EU will strive to engage constructively with the new U.S. administration to maintain collaborative climate efforts. The Paris Agreement serves as the backbone of global climate negotiations, and any setback could embolden other nations to reduce their commitments. The EU remains committed to its climate plans despite missing a February deadline, as it aims to finalize them by the upcoming U.N. climate summit in November.