Paris Accord members call for unity in combating climate change

Because of this US exit from the agreement, China, France, Italy, the United Kingdom and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change issued a joint statement calling for global unity to reduce the effects of global warming.

The statement recalls the responsibility to protect the planet and its inhabitants from the threat posed by climate change.

"Today's science is clear. We must urgently step up action and work together to reduce the effects of global warming and thus ensure a greener and more resilient future for the whole world," the office said, recalling that the framework for achieving this goal is the Paris Agreement.

Similarly, the signatories recalled the need to give strong support to countries and communities "that are on the front line of suffering the effects of climate change", as well as to achieve "keeping temperature increases well below 2 degrees Celsius" and to act to limit warming to 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels.

A little more than a month before the fifth anniversary of the Paris Agreement - on 12 December - the participants in the declaration "noted with regret" the US withdrawal that took effect today.

"As we look ahead to COP26 (Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) in Glasgow, we remain committed to working with all U.S. stakeholders and partners around the world to accelerate climate action, and with all signatories to ensure full implementation of the Paris Accord," the document concludes.

In November last year the US government issued a communiqué confirming the beginning of the process for the US to withdraw from the Paris Agreement.

Under the terms of the treaty, the United States officially notified the United Nations of its withdrawal, which becomes effective one year after the notice was given.

The decision to withdraw from the Agreement is due, according to statements made by US President Donald Trump on 1 June 2017, "to the unfair economic burden imposed on US workers, businesses and taxpayers by the contributions made by the United States under the Agreement".