‍By CGTN's Wang Hui

Following US President Donald Trump's confirmation that the US will pull out of the Paris Agreement on Thursday, CGTN's Wang Hui sat down with the head of UN Environment China, Zhang Shigang, to discuss what effect the US withdrawal will have on its own economy, and how the international community can advance the agreement. 

While announcing his decision, Trump blamed the Paris Agreement for negatively affecting America's economy. 

US President Donald Trump. /VCG Photo

Zhang responded by saying that globalization covers all countries, and no country can be isolated. The Paris Agreement is a call for global action to collectively address the challenges posed by climate change, and is a win-win situation. 

"We've also noticed some negative impact to the global economy, if we are taking this global climate deal, but in the long run, it will be absolutely positive," Zhang said. 

Although Trump said during the announcement that renegotiating a better deal is one of his options, Zhang said that the UN and the international community will not open any doors for him to do this. 

VCG Photo

"This is definitely not [going to happen]. This is not only the position of the United Nations, this is the voice of the countries who are members of UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) and signed the Paris Agreement. So the answer is very clear," Zhang said.

As a major participant of the Paris Climate accord, China announced a pledge to reduce its carbon emissions by up to 45 percent by 2020, and reach peak emissions by 2030, or earlier.

Following Trump’s announcement, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, who was in Brussels for the 19th China-EU leaders' meeting on Friday, highlighted China’s responsibility in coping with climate change, and said China is willing to work with the European Union to uphold the Paris climate deal. 

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (L) and German Chancellor Angela Merkel attend a joint press conference in Berlin on June 1, 2017. /VCG Photo

Zhang spoke highly about China's reaffirmation of its commitment, and voiced his optimism for the future of the climate accord. 

"China, together with the European Union, represent a big proportion of the world economy and world market, so I think with the commitment... shown by the leaders of both sides, they will definitely positively move forward in terms of implementing the Paris Agreement," said Zhang. 

Zhang stressed the urgency needed to deal with climate change, underlining that "if you don't deal with it today, you will face bigger trouble tomorrow."