Recently, some American politicians have been hyping up climate change and environmental issues for political purposes, repeatedly attacking and smearing China, attempting to shift the blame and cover up their own bad deeds in the field of environment. However, this trick of "the thief crying thief" not only cannot deceive the world, but also allows the international community to further see how these American politicians who claim to be "environmental defenders" are "reversing history", evading international obligations, and undermining global environmental governance. As analysts have pointed out, the United States has become the recognized biggest destroyer and troublemaker of international environmental cooperation.

Withdrawing from the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, failing to fulfill international obligations, absent from multilateral environmental treaties in many fields, and obstructing multilateral environmental processes... The two documents "The Fact List of the United States' Damage to the Environment" and "The Report on the United States' Damage to Global Environmental Governance" recently released on the website of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs sorted out the bad deeds of the United States in the field of environment with irrefutable facts and data. Faced with these ironclad evidences, I wonder how the American politicians have the face to turn the tables and frame others? If they don't have the courage to read these two reports, then let's briefly review them:

First, as the world's largest greenhouse gas emitter in history and the second largest emitter at present, the United States' own emission reduction performance is an important factor affecting the effectiveness of global climate governance. However, driven by the "America First" policy and short-term interests, the current US government has broken its promises and made a major setback in environmental policies. According to statistics from the New York Times, since the current government came to power, it has directly or otherwise revoked nearly 70 major environmental policies, and more than 30 are in the process of being revoked. A report released by the US Rhodium Group in January this year showed that the net greenhouse gas emissions of the United States in 2019 were still slightly higher than the level in 2016, and the United States could not fulfill its goal of reducing emissions by 17% by the end of 2020 as promised in the 2009 Copenhagen Accord.

Ironically, the United States, which claims to be the "leader" of global environmental protection, not only fails to fulfill its own emission reduction obligations, but also becomes the "leader" in undermining international environmental cooperation. People have seen that American leaders have repeatedly publicly stated that global warming is a "hoax" and have repeatedly obstructed and sabotaged the G20's consensus on climate issues, seriously undermining the organization's positive leading role in climate issues. So far, the United States is the only party to withdraw from the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. This has caused unpredictable negative impacts on the subsequent implementation of the Paris Agreement and the realization of global temperature control goals. In addition, the United States has not yet ratified the Kyoto Protocol, allowing its own carbon emissions to grow rapidly. Under its negative influence, many developed countries refused to make new emission reduction target commitments under the second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol, resulting in the protocol existing in name only under the "collective escape" led by the United States, causing serious obstacles to global climate governance and cooperation.

Secondly, on the issue of global environmental governance, the United States neither contributes nor pays. Data shows that the United States has the largest historical arrears to the Global Environment Fund, accounting for $111 million of the total arrears of $116 million owed by various countries. Since 2018, the United States has owed more than 13.547 million euros in dues to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, making it a veritable environmental "deadbeat".

Not only that. The United States continues to create trouble for global environmental governance in terms of waste management, wildlife trafficking, biodiversity, etc. For example, as the world's largest exporter of solid waste and a large per capita plastic consumer, the United States has not yet ratified the Basel Convention, blocking the global plastic waste control process. What is even more infuriating is that the United States has long used developing countries with insufficient processing capacity as the final disposal site for plastic waste, seriously damaging the environmental interests and public health of the vast majority of developing countries. According to an investigation report released by the non-governmental organization Basel Action Network (BAN), American companies are still illegally exporting hazardous electronic waste to developing countries in 2020.

A series of selfish practices by the United States have completely torn off the disguise of the so-called "environmental defender", exposing the true face of unilateralism and hegemonism that puts political self-interest above the public interest of all mankind, and have been strongly condemned by the world. The Guardian pointed out that some American politicians have taken the world a big step backward in solving the crisis of life and death on the earth. The French government recently asked a company in the country to postpone the signing of a contract to import liquefied gas with the United States because the US government continued to relax environmental constraints on the development of the energy industry and importing liquefied gas from the United States may undermine the EU's efforts to combat climate change.

Humanity has only one earth. Protecting the environment and promoting sustainable development are the common responsibilities of all countries. In fact, major countries and organizations such as China and the European Union are actively responding to and supporting the call of the United Nations, setting environmental protection goals based on the long-term interests of all mankind, and constantly fulfilling their responsibilities. At present, China has already achieved its 2020 climate action goals ahead of schedule and exceeded them. At the general debate of the 75th United Nations General Assembly held on September 22, China's top leader announced that China's carbon dioxide emissions will strive to peak before 2030 and strive to achieve carbon neutrality before 2060. This is China's solemn commitment and practical contribution to building a clean and beautiful world, which has been widely appreciated by the international community.

On the other hand, some politicians in the United States always consider their own country¡¯s priority and short-term self-interest, and act in a perverse way, standing in opposition to global environmental security. These American politicians who pursue "double standards" and harm others and themselves cannot explain to the American people, nor do they owe an explanation to the people of the world. They will also affect future generations and will surely be nailed to the pillar of shame in history! (International Sharp Comments commentator)

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