Until Formal Paris Withdrawal, US Can Keep Shitting On Climate Deals, Blocking Progress
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Until they fully withdraw, “the US team can be expected to continue participating,” Sue Biniaz, the state department’s lead climate lawyer for the four administrations before Trump’s, told CHN. The US would be able to make decisions, negotiate the rules and block agreements in the talks. Since Trump announced the US intention to leave the Paris accord more than two years ago, state department officials have continued to negotiate its rules – albeit with reduced impact, according to Betts. These rules should be finalised before the US can officially come out of the agreement next year.
Even outside the Paris deal the US will remain a party to the UN climate convention (UNFCCC), of which the Paris Agreement is only a part. Unless the state department stops sending delegations, a move observers believe is unlikely, American diplomats will still participate in the negotiations and take part in shaping the final talks outcome. In Paris accord discussions they will be officially designated as observers. That gives them access, but they will lose decision-making powers and the ability to block consensus.
“After that, I imagine they would continue to participate as a party to the UNFCCC and as an observer to Paris,” Biniaz said. This would be the second time the US finds itself in this position, having never ratified the Kyoto Protocol, which governed emissions cuts in the period before 2020.
While its position will be weakened, the presence of the world’s largest economy will continue to have meaning in the negotiation halls, said Betts. “[The US will] still play a role”, he said. “It is impossible that they will be disregarded all together.”
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https://www.climatechangenews.com/2019/11/03/us-will-keep-seat-climate-talks-leaves-paris-deal/