- Title: Kerry warns of climate threat at talks overshadowed by Trump
- Date: 16th November 2016
- Summary: MARRAKESH, MOROCCO (NOVEMBER 16, 2016) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE, JOHN KERRY, ADDRESSING AUDIENCE DURING CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE, JOHN KERRY, SAYING: "The global community is more united than ever not just in accepting the challenge, but in confronting it with real action and making a difference. And no one, no one should doubt the overwhelming majority of the citizens of the United States who know that climate change is happening and are determined to keep the commitments that were made in Paris." KERRY ADDRESSING AUDIENCE KERRY ON SCREEN (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE, JOHN KERRY, SAYING: "Obviously an election took place in my country, and I know it's left some here and elsewhere feeling uncertain about the future. I obviously understand that uncertainty. And while I can't stand here and speculate about what policies our President-elect will pursue, I will tell you this: In the time I've spent in public life, one of the things I've learned is that some issues look a bit different when you're actually in office compared to when you're on the campaign trail. And the truth is that climate change shouldn't be a partisan issue in the first place. It isn't a partisan issue for our military leaders at the Pentagon, who call climate change a threat multiplier." KERRY ADDRESSING AUDIENCE (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE, JOHN KERRY, SAYING: "In a powerful statement of the world's broad commitment to this agreement, in less than a year, 109 countries representing nearly 75 percent of the worlds emissions have now formally committed to bold, decisive action, and we are determined to affirm that action and to stick with it out of Marrakesh." KERRY ADDRESSING AUDIENCE (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE, JOHN KERRY, SAYING: "Scientists who have dedicated their entire lives to expanding our understanding of this challenge, and whose work will be in vain unless we sound the alarm loud enough for everyone to hear. No one has a right to make decisions that affect billions of people based on solely ideology, or without proper input." JOURNALISTS (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE, JOHN KERRY, SAYING: "In all parts of the world, including my own, who may be confronted with decisions about which road to take at this critical juncture, I ask you, on behalf of billions of people around the world: Don't take my word for it. Don't take just the existence of this COP as the stamp of approval for it. I ask you to see for yourselves. Do your own due diligence before making irrevocable choices. Examine closely what it is that has persuaded the Pope, presidents, and prime ministers all over the world - leaders around the world - to take on the responsibility of responding to this threat." AUDIENCE APPLAUDING
- Embargoed: 1st December 2016 16:47
- Keywords: Morocco John Kerry Marrakesh climate change Paris agreement
- Location: MARRAKESH, MOROCCO
- City: MARRAKESH, MOROCCO
- Country: Morocco
- Topics: Environment,Climate Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA00158P3BYF
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry urged countries to treat the earth's changing climate as an urgent threat, citing melting glaciers, stronger storms, and record-breaking droughts, during a speech at a Marrakesh conference on Wednesday (November 16).
Kerry had hoped his presence at the Marrakesh conference to decide on the finer points of a historic agreement to stave off climate change would be a victory lap.
Instead, he found himself having to address the uncertainty created by the election of Donald Trump, and what his presidency might mean for the U.S. commitment to the 2015 Paris agreement to cut global greenhouse gas emissions.
"While I can't stand here and speculate about what policies our President-elect will pursue, I will tell you this: In the time I've spent in public life, one of the things I've learned is that some issues look a bit different when you're actually in office compared to when you're on the campaign trail," he said.
Trump has called climate change a hoax, and said he would rip up the Paris deal, halt any U.S. taxpayer funds for U.N. global warming programs, and revive the U.S. coal sector.
If he follows through on his promises, he would undo the legacy of President Barack Obama, who has made climate change a policy priority and called the rising temperatures and other fallout from climate change "terrifying". - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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