The 22nd Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP22) opens in Marrakech, Morocco, on Nov. 7, 2016. [Photo: xwzx.ndrc.gov.cn]

By Sarah Dickens for Sino.uk

As the UN climate change conference (COP22) commences in Marrakesh, Morocco today, German MEP Jo Leinen has appealed for the EU and China to join forces to ensure that the United States does not go back on its pledges in the Paris agreement, following the election of Donald Trump.

"Trump’s victory will undoubtedly have severe consequences on the way of tackling climate change at global level", commented Leinen, adding that it could "paralyse or even jeopardise the process of ratification and implementation of the Paris agreement".

"In Paris, China and the EU played a key role of honest broker among different ‘camps’ during the negotiations. That contributed to the final conclusion of the ground-breaking agreement", he explained on Friday "and this time in Marrakech, China is expected to line up with the EU. These two global powers should assume their responsibility by forming a new coalition with the aim of fighting for a progressive global climate policy."

"In the current context, only by adopting a proactive approach and combining the forces can the COP22 preserve the Paris achievements and put the commitments into practice by means of effective actions", emphasised Leinen.

Kenneth Berlin, CEO of the Climate Reality Project, which was founded by former US vice president Al Gore, warned that Trump’s election could be a disaster for international efforts to tackle climate change.

"If Trump follows through with his plan to withdraw, other developed nations will need to fill the place of the US," Berlin said.