London climate change experts: 'Donald Trump has done us a huge favour over Paris agreement'

Donald Trump announces the US will pull out of the Paris climate change deal.
Getty Images

London climate change experts say Donald Trump's decision to pull out of the Paris agreement could have done their cause "a huge favour".

The US leader withdrew from the global warming deal on Thursday, claiming the agreement “punishes the US” and had been poorly negotiated by his predecessor Barack Obama.

But today some of the capital’s experts on climate change offered a glimmer of hope with one professor suggesting the US President had done environmental campaigners a “huge favour”.

Leading scientist and UCL professor Chris Rapley told the Standard: “My initial reaction was obviously kind of shock and horror.

“At first sight it looks damaging, but actually I’ve been reflecting on it overnight. I think he’s done a huge, huge favour.

“We could not have got more publicity. And the framing of that publicity is not that climate change is not real.

“The framing that everybody is adopting is that climate change is real. Everybody sees he is a buffoon.”

Greenpeace activists protest with a light-projection onto the American embassy in Berlin.
REUTERS

Professor Rapley added: “He doesn’t understand the science. The science is overwhelming.

“And he doesn’t understand the Paris agreement. It’s not legally binding, it’s voluntary. The US could always re-negotiate it quietly.

Putting America first: Friday's Evening Standard cartoon (Adams )
Adams

“He doesn’t understand the economics that this is going to damage American jobs and the economy. America is now seen as a laughing stock. ‘Make America Great Again’ is ironic.”

Samantha Heath, head of the London Sustainability Exchange, said the polling in the US following President Trump’s move “shows that this is not a lost cause”.

Undeterred: The One World Trade Center in New York is illuminated with green light in response to Donald Trump's move.
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“I think the polling in the states shows that more Americans do not support Trump on this particular matter,” she said. “So there are positives”.

It comes as three Democratic governors in California, Washington and New York united to defy President Trump and back the Paris accord.

A source from organisation Climate UK added: “We have already seen states and cities and large companies step up and say despite what the president wants to do we are still going to go ahead.”

Ms Heath added that agreements between cities and states rather than simply nations can help to combat climate change.

“Cities are a way forward in a huge way. Cities will stand up and it’s good that many American states have said they will carry on.”

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan slammed President Trump’s decision and said world leaders must unite “now more than ever” to tackle climate change.

Climate Trade Accord Protest - In pictures

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He said: “I remain committed to the Paris Agreement and working with other world cities on solutions to tackling emissions, harmful pollutants and safe guarding the environment.”

London’s own fight to protect the environment comes hand in hand with toxic air in the capital. Levels of air pollution hit the top black alert in the capital earlier this year, with one school restricting time outdoors for children.

The protest outside the US embassy in Berlin.
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Shocking new figures revealed toxic air pollution limits were breached more than 1,000 times in 2016 just in Putney High Street.

On Friday, Jeremy Corbyn accused Theresa May of “subservience” to the US President after her criticism paled in comparison to other European leaders.

Politicians around the globe joined in condemning President Trump with Japan’s finance minister saying he was “angry” and EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker deeming the decision as “seriously wrong”.

PM Theresa May said she was disappointed and told President Trump in a phone call that the deal protects the “prosperity and security of future generations”.

Mr Corbyn labelled the move as “reckless and dangerous” while Lib Dem leader Tim Farron told the PM to use whatever influence she has to urge President Trump to reverse his exit.

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