"The United States will withdraw from the Paris Agreement on climate, but will begin new negotiations either to re-enter the Paris Agreement or an entirely new treaty that is fairer to the United States, its businesses, its workers, its people, its taxpayers. So we're getting out, but we'll start to negotiate and we'll see if we can make a deal that's fair. If we can, great. If we can't, that's fine too."

The new United States–Syria coalition

Discorso di Trump sull'uscita dall'Accordo di Parigi

"The Paris Agreement is a handicap for the American economy," said Trump © Win McNamee/Getty Images

The press conference at which Donald Trump announced the United States' withdrawal from the Paris Agreement © Win McNamee/Getty Images

And yet it's very hot during Trump's speech against the Paris Agreement... © Win McNamee/Getty Images

How much do the United States contribute to global warming? Very little, according to Trump. At least he admitted it exists © Win McNamee/Getty Images

With these words, United States president Donald Trump opened his long-awaited (it began more than 20 minutes late) and widely expected (the news had already circulated a day in advance) speech announcing Washington's withdrawal from the Paris Agreement. The first and only treaty to have seen the entire international community unite to combat climate change. The United States now has only Syria and Nicaragua for company — though Nicaragua chose to stay out because it considered the agreement too weak.

For statements and commentary, read also: Donald Trump chooses isolationism: United States out of the Paris Agreement

Trump specified that "this includes ending the implementation of the Intended Nationally Determined Contributions," meaning the pledges to reduce greenhouse gas emissions voluntarily put forward by individual governments around the world, "and, very importantly, ending the Green Climate Fund which is costing the United States a vast fortune." The Green Climate Fund aims to provide financial support to developing countries in their journey towards adapting to climate change through medium-term national projects and plans. The fund is expected to have 100 billion dollars (around 91 billion euros) a year available until 2020. The European Union is currently the fund's largest contributor, with 14.5 billion euros already disbursed by 2014.

"Why can they and we can't?"

What Trump cannot stomach, in any case, is not being able to do as he pleases, while — in his view — countries such as India and China are free to do whatever they like: "Under the agreement, China will be able to increase its CO2 emissions for a staggering number of years. Thirteen. The Chinese can do whatever they want for thirteen years, we can't." And, to cap it all, "the current agreement effectively blocks the development of clean coal in America," for which Trump promised the opening of new mines around the country within two weeks.

accordo di parigi clima trump — "The Paris Agreement is a handicap for the American economy," said Trump © Win McNamee/Getty Images

"The United States will be the environment's best friend"

To close — or almost, because there would be much more to say — Trump cited an article published in the Wall Street Journal which states, in his words, that "the United States under the Trump administration will continue to be the cleanest and most environmentally friendly nation on Earth. We'll be the cleanest, we'll have the cleanest air, we'll have the cleanest water. We'll be environmentally friendly but we won't put our businesses out of work and we won't lose our jobs." Because, based on the America first motto, he says, "we will grow, we will grow rapidly."

Perhaps — but only because the majority of businesses, starting with those that drive Silicon Valley, and the most progressive American states, such as California and New York, will act as though this speech was never delivered.

The new United States–Syria coalition

For statements and commentary, read also: Donald Trump chooses isolationism: United States out of the Paris Agreement

"Why can they and we can't?"

"The United States will be the environment's best friend"

To find out more, read also:

What Donald Trump has said about climate and the Paris Agreement