Superpowers tackle climate despite Trump

Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo speaks at the opening ceremony of the 2018 Global Climate Action Summit (GCAS) in San Francisco, on Sept 13. (Pool photo)

When I arrived in San Francisco for the Global Climate Action Summit (GCAS) earlier this month, the trade war between the US and China was escalating, with the US announcing new tariffs on goods from the latter which vowed retaliatory measures.

With that trade war scenario in mind, I -- like so many others -- did not expect cooperation between the two superpowers, especially on measures to combat climate change. Early this year, the US imposed a tariff on solar panels imported from China.

Before that, many readers must still remember how Donald Trump, shortly after taking the Oval Office, disappointed the global community with his announcement that the US would withdraw from the Paris Agreement. The U-turn, which took effect in June 2017, means all pledges regarding assistance and funds made by his predecessor become null and void.