Germany’s outgoing Chancellor hits out at Donald Trump

CGTN Europe

Germany’s outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz has criticized Donald Trump's decision to abandon the Paris Climate Accord, saying it would impact the world's fight against climate change, given the U.S.'s high emission levels.   #germany #trump #climate

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00:00The outgoing German Chancellor Olaf Scholz says he's disappointed that Washington is planning to leave the Paris Climate Agreement,

00:08given that the United States is the biggest greenhouse gas polluter in history.

00:13His comments came at the Petersburg Climate Dialogue in Berlin,

00:17where delegates from across the world are meeting to discuss preparations for COP30 in Brazil.

00:24I am extremely concerned that the United States wants to leave the agreement.

00:28But one thing is clear, denying and ignoring the facts does not make the consequences of climate change

00:34or the responsibility of the United States as historically the largest emitter of greenhouse gases disappear.

00:41Well, let's talk to our correspondent, Trent Murray, who's in Berlin.

00:44Trent, what else has come out of this conference?

00:50Yeah, that's right, Jamie.

00:52We heard there Olaf Scholz seemingly taking aim at the Trump administration's decision to roll back

00:57some Biden-era limits on just how much power plants and automobiles could emit from their activity.

01:05We know that today's talks involve 190 signatory countries that form the Paris Climate Accord.

01:12That accord, we should remember, asked signatory countries to try and keep the world's global temperatures

01:18from rising above two degrees when compared to pre-industrial levels.

01:24This summit today comes at a time of real concern for those fighting against climate change.

01:30We know that the latest UN report suggests that last year was the first time ever

01:36that those global temperatures were over 1.5 degrees when compared to pre-industrial levels.

01:43So getting very close to the two degrees limit that those signatory countries signed up for.

01:49We also understand, according to that report, that 2024 was likely to be one of the warmest years on record

01:56when we look back at the data over the 175-year observation period that global scientists have

02:03when they look at global climate shifts.

02:06And we are also being told that the rate of sea level rise has doubled since satellite measurements began.

02:14So certainly some politics there from Olaf Scholz taking aim at the Trump administration.

02:19But I think the broader concern right now is that with the US leaving the world's biggest emitter

02:24that it will be even more difficult to try and wrestle those numbers back below the two degrees limit

02:30that the Paris Climate Accord calls for signatory countries to sign up to.

02:34They are preparing, of course, for the next COP30 summit which will take place in Brazil.

02:40We know a large Brazilian delegation here in Berlin today in preparations for that summit, Jamie.

02:44Trent, thank you for that. Our correspondent Trent Murray in Berlin.

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