COP22: Climate Change Efforts to Push on Amid Trump Concerns

As the COP22 climate summit in Marrakech, Morocco, summit President President Salaheddine Mezouar remained determined that progress would continue to mitigate the effects of climate change. His comments come amid concerns of U.S. president-elect Donald Trump comprising the historic Paris deal.

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Mezouar, also Morocco’s foreign affairs minister, told AFP that “governments must face up to their responsibilities … It would be, I think, extremely difficult to retreat.”

“I am waiting with impatience to encounter the new American administration," he added. "I have absolutely no doubt … that the United States will pursue its commitments alongside the rest of the international community.”

“Our commitment to be climate leaders remains steadfast, as is our commitment to work with the whole international community, including the United States,” read a joint statement from a number of countries including France, Germany, Mexico and Bangladesh.

"There are two types of reaction: worry and determination to forge ahead," commented French foreign minister Segolene Royal.

“One single man cannot ruin a whole 20 years of progress on climate change,” said Jean Su from the Center for Biological Diversity to the Pacific Standard.

Chinese delegate Chen Zhihua said they would need to “assess the situation” when Trump takes office in January 2017, echoing others' “wait and see” attitude.

Climate change negotiators are concerned that Trump will follow through with claims during his campaign that he wished to cancel the Paris agreement and to move the U.S. more forcefully toward the heavily polluting oil and coal industries, claiming that the deal is bad for U.S. workers and business.

Trump has even suggested that climate change is fabricated by China to hurt U.S. interests in the global market. Kevin Cramer, a known climate change denier and fracking supporter, helped to draft Trump’s energy policy for his presidential campaign, and there is speculation that he may be appointed to the president-elect’s cabinet come January.

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While the talks in Marrakech are geared toward the international problem of climate change, a number of groups in Morocco are concerned of the ongoing environmental challenges in their own country, particularly the exploitation of resources, land grabs and pollution.

The Imider community which lies 300 kilometers south of Marrakesh, whose land has been negatively affected by the mining industry is holding an  International Environmental Justice Film Festival as part. The On The Road 96 movement is organizing the event along with workshops at protest camps.

Other communities around the country have also been devastated by land grabs by private companies, backed with the support of state law enforcement. A number of Moroccan organizations including human rights, trade union and environmental groups decided to boycott talks in Marrakech and host their own alternative event instead.

Representatives from more than 196 countries are taking part in the implementation talks for the COP21 Paris Agreement which aims to curb the onset of global warming by limiting the annual increase of the global temperature to “well below” 1.5 degree Celsius. The event will run until Nov. 18.