World reacts to US withdrawal from 66 international bodies
(VOVWORLD) - Leaders of countries and multilateral organizations around the world on Thursday reacted to US President Donald Trump's executive order to withdraw the United States from 66 international organizations, agencies and commissions, including the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
 UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. (Photo: REUTERS) |
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres regrets a US decision to withdraw from dozens of UN entities, his spokesperson said on Thursday, stressing that the US funding for a "large number" of those bodies was mandatory.
UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric stated that the US is currently the largest contributor to the UN's annual budget, accounting for approximately 22%. However, Washington failed to fulfill its annual budget contribution obligations last year and owes approximately 1.5 billion USD.
UN climate chief Simon Stiell said the US's decision to withdraw from the UN’s key climate treaty was a "colossal own goal which will leave the US less secure and less prosperous”.
Jake Schmidt of the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) said that if the US officially withdraws from the UNFCCC, it would be the first of 198 countries and territories to cease participation in the convention. According to Schmidt, the US needs to participate in and actively promote efforts to combat climate change because it is the world's largest economy and the largest emitter of greenhouse gases in history.
European Commissioner for Climate Action Wopke Hoekstra called the US move "regrettable," while reaffirming the bloc's support for international climate research.