Updated: June 2, 7:23 a.m. EDT Just one hour after Donald Trump announced that he was withdrawing the United States from the global climate accord negotiated in Paris — saying that he was “elected to represent the citizens of Pittsburgh, not Paris” — the new French president, Emmanuel Macron, offered refuge in France to American climate scientists. In a three-minute address to the American people streamed live from the Élysée Palace, Macron offered hope for the future, and a message of solidarity that seemed to echo those once delivered by American presidents to captive nations suffering under the yoke of dictatorship — or aimed at resistance fighters in an occupied country. “Tonight, I wish to tell the United States, France believes in you — the world believes in you,” Macron said. “I know that you are a great nation. I know your history — our common history.”
To all scientists, engineers, entrepreneurs, responsible citizens who were disappointed by the decision of the US: pic.twitter.com/qxjPX8MhKt — Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) June 1, 2017
“To all scientists, engineers, entrepreneurs, responsible citizens who were disappointed by the decision of the president of the United States, I want to say that they will find in France a second homeland,” he continued. “I call on them: come and work here with us. To work together on concrete solutions for our climate, our environment. I can assure you, France will not give up the fight.” At the end of his remarks, the French president made it crystal clear that his message was intended as a rebuke of not just his American counterpart’s decision, but his entire worldview. “I call on you to remain confident,” Macron said, standing in front the of the flags of both France and the European Union. “We will succeed, because we are fully committed, because wherever we live, whoever we are, we all share the same responsibility: Make Our Planet Great Again.”
We all share the same responsibility: make our planet great again. pic.twitter.com/IIWmLEtmxj — Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) June 1, 2017
Macron’s social media team made sure that closing rejoinder to Trump and Trumpism was not missed by those lacking the strength or the stamina to make it to the third minute of his speech.
Trump later responded in a typically sophisticated, mature fashion.
MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 2, 2017
Reuters reports that before his speech, Macron told Trump in a brief phone call on Thursday that the climate deal signed in Paris in 2015 could not be renegotiated. He added that while France would continue to work with the United States on other matters, it would no longer discuss climate issues. The German Chancellor’s spokesman, Steffen Seibert, shared a joint statement from Angela Merkel, Emmanuel Macron and Paolo Gentiloni, the Italian prime minister, which confirmed that “the Paris Agreement cannot be renegotiated, since it is a vital instrument for our planet, societies and economies.”
Statement by France,Germany + Italy: Paris Agreement cannot be renegotiated, it is a vitalinstrument for our planet, https://t.co/RXCvXWi0GF — Steffen Seibert (@RegSprecher) June 1, 2017
Trump, whose beef with climate scientists might actually stem from his deep dismay at no longer being allowed to use aerosol hairspray, finished his own remarks by claiming a second time that he was acting to put the interests of Pittsburgh ahead of those of Paris. With this refrain, he was apparently hoping to con ill-informed voters into believing that the international agreement negotiated in the French capital, in which 195 nations agreed to limit fossil-fuel emissions for the global good, was somehow to the unique benefit of the French people. The same minute Trump finished speaking, however, the mayor of Pittsburgh, Bill Peduto, reminded him that the city had in fact voted overwhelmingly against him.
Fact: Hillary Clinton received 80% of the vote in Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh stands with the world & will follow Paris Agreement @HillaryClinton https://t.co/cibJyT7MAK — bill peduto (@billpeduto) June 1, 2017
Peduto also confirmed that the city’s government would continue to honor its obligations under the Paris framework. The mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo — who was forced to respond recently to Trump’s bizarre claim that “Paris is no longer Paris,” because of the threat of terrorism — quickly seconded the Pittsburgh mayor’s affirmation of the role of local governments.
In his own response to Trump’s decision, Canada’s prime minister, Justin Trudeau, held out hope for working with local governments in American cities and states, while expressing regret at what he called a decision by “the United States federal government.”
We are deeply disappointed that the United States federal government has decided to withdraw from the Paris Agreement. — Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) June 1, 2017
“We are all custodians of this world,” Trudeau added, “and that is why Canada will continue to work with the U.S. at the state level, and with other U.S. stakeholders, to address climate change and promote clean growth.” Subsequent reporting from The Washington Post on what led to Trump’s decision, and his strange focus on France, revealed that the American president has little understanding of how the climate deal works, and was also said to be “irritated and bewildered” that Macron upstaged him with a very firm handshake during their photo-op last week at the U.S. Embassy in Brussels.
Trump meets his handshake match in Macron https://t.co/Ys3S4wChX1 pic.twitter.com/OApBZEWB5X — Bloomberg (@business) May 25, 2017
jimtheevo on June 2nd, 2017 at 21:38 UTC »
As someone who works in science, I recently left France for the US. France is an interesting country and I love it (as a Brit that's high praise.)
That said unless serious investment is made in core science departments and policies I don't see this working.
Salary is an issue. I made €30000 a year, I have taken a massive pay increase in the states. Pay in France is highly regulated and poor compared with other countries. If I would have been lucky enough to get a permanent position I would have taken a pay cut!
Progression to permanent positions is zarbe (French slang for bizarre) normally it is done centrally by the government bodies like the CNRS. So even though you might have a department who like you and want you, you might not be selected. On the plus side a permanent position in the CNRS is like a golden ticket.
Funding (like the U.K.) is limited, often hovered up by the big institutions. However as a pro now with the UK leaving perhaps France can pick up a larger share than before.
ScreaminForVengance on June 2nd, 2017 at 18:36 UTC »
Problem is the language barrier is really stark in France. I was shocked to see just how few French people speak English in comparison to Germany for example. Not implying that they should speak English, but it would hard to move there when basic communication would be difficult.
themeatbridge on June 2nd, 2017 at 17:48 UTC »
Um, Ok. I'm not a scientist, but I'm a citizen. Where do I sign up?