EU chemicals ‘stand by’ Paris Accord after US withdrawal

Protestors outside the White House on 1 June demand President Trump to keep the US within the Paris Accord. Source: Nigel Davies/ICIS

LONDON (ICIS)–The European chemicals industry said late on Thursday it will continue supporting the Paris Accord to limit greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions to minimise global warming despite the US withdrawal.

Donald Trump said the US was “getting out” of Paris, although he added the country would seek to renegotiate the agreement’s terms and make them “fair” for US companies and consumers.

“In the run up to the Paris Agreement [in December 2015], European chemical CEOs publically backed a strong global climate change agreement and applauded the diplomatic efforts to achieve an ambitious and globally-binding agreement,” said EU chemicals trade group Cefic.

“We stand by this position.

“We believe the EU chemical industry is a pillar for tomorrow’s low carbon economy. Chemical innovations enable current and future climate change solutions, including renewable energy, energy storage and thousands of products to improve energy efficiency, such as in vehicles and buildings.”

In related news, the CEO of industrial gases major Praxair Steve Angel said on Friday he would not comment on the US President’s decision, but praised his company’s record in sustainable policies, arguably showing uneasiness with the US decision.

“I don’t make political statements on climate change. [However], Praxair has environmental stewardship as part of its values. In a number of filing [to regulators], we detail in our sustainability report water usage, emissions or details on our waste,” said Angel.

“And I’ll give you one fact: we are the only US chemical company which has been recognised in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index for 14 consecutive years.”

Steve Angel was speaking in Munich at a press conference with Aldo Belloni, the CEO of German industrial gases major Linde after the two companies announced their merger late on Thursday.