The European Union and China plan to show solidarity on climate change at the same time President Trump will be announcing a decision on whether to exit the Paris climate change deal this week.
Leaders from China and the EU are meeting this week in Brussels to discuss forward movement on fighting climate change after Trump’s meeting with G7 countries in Sicily last week, where he failed to sign onto a joint statement expressing support for the Paris agreement.
The 19th annual EU-China Summit, June 1-2, will focus on trade, climate change and migration, according to the European Union website. “It will also be an opportunity to discuss foreign policy and security challenges.”
On Friday, the Europeans and China will issue a joint statement expressing their support for the climate deal, and their shared political will to move ahead on the agreement, the BBC reported. The statement will come as Trump is anticipated to announce his decision to exit from the agreement on Thursday or Friday.
“The EU and China underline their highest political commitment to the effective implementation of the Paris Agreement in all its aspects,” according to a draft copy of the Friday joint statement obtained by the BBC.
“The Paris Agreement is proof that with shared political will and mutual trust, multilateralism can succeed in building fair and effective solutions to the most critical global problems of our time,” the draft read. “The EU and China consider the Paris agreement as an historic achievement further accelerating the irreversible global low greenhouse gas emission and climate resilient development.”
Many critics of Trump’s plan say without the U.S. as a party to the agreement, it cedes leadership to China. Former Vice President Joe Biden tweeted that “staying in [the] Paris Agreement is the best way to protect our children and global leadership.”
Trump hasn’t publicly said where he stands on the deal. However, Axios reported Wednesday that two administration sources said Trump’s decision is to exit from the deal.
Trump briefly remarked to reporters Wednesday that he is still talking to both sides of the debate on whether he should exit or remain in the agreement. “I’m hearing from a lot of people both ways. Both ways,” Trump said.
