French President Emmanuel Macron is using President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw from the Paris climate accord as part of his plea before the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
Paris and Los Angeles are competing to host the 2024 summer Olympic games. Paris has lost its bid to host the game three times in the recent past, and Macron is determined to bring the games to a country that embodies “openness, tolerance and respect for the environment,” reports Reuters.
“Olympic values are our values,” Macron told reporters Tuesday after Paris made its case to the IOC.
“They are threatened, called into question by many today, so it’s the best moment to defend them,” said Macron, the only head of state to go before the IOC.
Macron criticized Trump’s plan to withdraw from the Paris accord, which is a non-binding commitment countries can make to cut greenhouse gas emissions. Trump said the accord would hurt the U.S. economy.
“I was elected to represent the citizens of Pittsburgh, not Paris,” Trump said in early June when announcing his intention to withdraw from the Paris accord.
Now, Macron is using Trump’s decision to take the Olympics from Los Angeles. Ironically, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti vowed to honor the goals of the Paris accord.
Garcetti is one of hundreds of local officials pledging to stick with the Paris accord, including New York Mayor Bill de Blasio and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, as part of the “resistance” to the Trump administration.
Macron appears to be trying to further divide state and local officials and Trump on global warming by stealing the Olympics. He likely wants local officials to feel real world effects of Trump’s decision.
“You are right to remember that we lost three times. We don’t want to lose a fourth one,” Macron said. “I decided from the very beginning of my mandate to back this project and give the maximum to promote this candidature.”
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