The United Nations (UN) will press on despite the United States’ withdrawal from 66 global organisations, including 31 of the UN’s affiliates.
A spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres says that he regrets the decision by US President Donald Trump made earlier this week.
The move was made in a presidential memorandum issued on Wednesday and has created outrage worldwide.
Trump says America must come first on the global stage and claims without evidence that the US is being undermined by membership in these global bodies.
The regional and global organisations that he is pulling the US out of cover the environment, climate, democracy, renewable energy, conservation and other areas.
“As we consistently underscored, assessed contributions to the United Nations regular and peacekeeping budgets, as approved by the General Assembly, are a legal obligation under the UN Charter for all member states, including the US,” the spokesman says.
“All United Nations entities will go on with the implementation of their mandates as given by member states.
“The United Nations has a responsibility to deliver for those who depend on us. We will continue to carry out our mandates with determination.”
Trump had already withdrawn the US from the Paris Climate Agreement, World Health Organization, UN Human Rights Council and UN Relief and Works Agency for the Near East (UNRWA).
He has now pulled the US out of organisations like the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) and UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
UNITED NATIONS FRAMEWORK
Simon Stiell is executive secretary of the UNFCCC and says the decision will hurt the US people and the economy.
“… this latest step back from global leadership, climate co-operation and science can only harm the US economy, jobs and living standards, as wildfires, floods, mega-storms and droughts get rapidly worse,” he says.
“It is a colossal own goal which will leave the US less secure and less prosperous.”
He believes the decision means higher costs for energy, food, transport and insurance as renewable energy continues to get cheaper than fossil fuels.
“It will also mean less American manufacturing jobs while every other major economy ramps up its clean energy investments, powering economic growth and energy security, and pushing renewables past coal as the world’s top energy source last year.”
He held the doors open for the US to re-enter the Framework in future.
“The size of the commercial opportunity in clean energy, climate resilience and advanced electrotech remains too big for American investors and businesses to ignore,” he says.
The full list can be viewed by visiting the US Department of State website.
