PNG Prime Minister writes to U.S President Trump to reconsider climate pact withdrawal

PNG Prime Minister James Marape. *(Image: PM's Department & NEC)*

Papua New Guinea is garnering the support of other Pacific Island countries to collectively urge the United States Government to reconsider its decision on realigning climate change support.

The PNG Government is formally writing to White House today, urging U.S President Donald Trump to review his decision of withdrawing from the Paris agreement.

Prime Minister James Marape revealed this in a media conference last night upon his return from the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

Marape said the announcement by Trump to pull out of the Paris Climate Treaty on January 20 was irresponsible and morally wrong.

PM Marape said U.S was the second biggest holder of carbon footprint after China, and withdrawing from the agreement would undermine their vital efforts of combatting the global rising temperature.

“Tomorrow (today) I'll be releasing a letter to Washington asking President Trump to reconsider his withdrawal from Paris Agreement. A formal letter will be conveyed to the White House,” Marape said.

The decision by Trump administration to remove U.S from the pact was first endorsed in 2017 but it was overturned by Joe Biden when he took office in 2021.

However, since Trump’s re-election, this move has resurfaced, vowing United States withdrawal from the climate agreement which was signed in 2015 at the French capital.

Leader of PNG government in Marape said the matter will be raised at the Pacific Island Forum for Pacific nations threatened by climate change to cooperatively make a statement.

He has called on the mutual efforts of all Pacific countries to persuade the U.S president to re-think his decision.

“I've made a reach out to our Pacific Island nations,” Marape said.

“They're in discussion at the moment as to our collective position but PNG makes it absolutely clear that we live in a time when climate change related adversities are hitting planet the hardest and the greatest effect and vulnerability is faced by those of us who had a least cost to global warming and climate change related issues.”