UK MPs urge May to challenge Trump on climate views

A cross-party group of MPs are urging Prime Minister Theresa May to challenge Donald Trump on his climate change stance. The call from the Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) comes as […]

A cross-party group of MPs are urging Prime Minister Theresa May to challenge Donald Trump on his climate change stance.

The call from the Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) comes as Ms May will hold talks in the White House with the new US President today.

The Committee raises “grave” concerns over Mr Trump’s previous statement about the US abandoning the Paris climate change agreement.

The President recently unveiled new energy policies, which includes supporting shale, clean coal and reversing Barack Obama’s climate change plans.

He also signed executive orders to advance the construction of two controversial oil pipelines.

The MPs are urging the UK Prime Minister to use the visit to stress the importance of the US maintaining its climate pledge.

In a letter to Ms May, they state the US President’s approach to reducing emissions could determine whether the UK and people around the world experience or avoid the worst impacts of climate change.

EAC Mary Creagh MP said: “The Prime Minister has said she won’t be afraid to challenge the new President so she should start by telling him climate change is not ‘a hoax’. Decades of scientific evidence from the world’s leading institutions show that climate change as a result of human activity is a threat to lives and livelihoods in the UK, the United States and around the world.

“We’re urging the Prime Minister to impress upon President Trump the importance of global action to tackle this global problem and to continue the United States’ commitment to the Paris Agreement.”

ELN has contacted the Prime Minister’s Office for a statement.

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