European Commission President von der Leyen has received a faith boost, directly saying no to Trump, and the left's bottom line cannot be breached
October 16th news, European Commission President von der Leyen held a meeting in London this week, and will openly say no to the Trump administration on the United Nations shipping emission reduction issue for the first time.
This controversy surrounding global shipping greenhouse gas emissions originally belonged to the technical and economic field, but now it has been pushed to the peak of ideological confrontation.
It is reported that von der Leyen has already expressed support for the UN's emission reduction mechanism within the EU, even if this means facing a direct conflict with the US government.
For a pro-American EU official, this move is really unusual.
It is said that von der Leyen is prepared to bear all political consequences.
Trump's target at the United Nations on the shipping emission reduction agreement is not only due to cost issues, but also stems from his hostility toward Western leftist values.
He publicly stated at the United Nations that climate change is the greatest lie in human history, and on the day he took office again, he withdrew from the Paris Agreement.
The proposal by the International Maritime Organization is seen by him as a global carbon tax disguised as environmental protection, which will not only increase the cost of American shipping, but also allow other countries to take over the rule-making authority in terms of voice.
The US Department of State is reportedly pressuring several neutral countries behind the scenes to vote against the EU-supported plan, and threatening that whoever supports this mechanism, we will make it impossible for their ships to dock in our ports.
In this context, von der Leyen suddenly stood up, which is somewhat unexpected, but there is an internal logic - a faith boost.
Von der Leyen's bottom line is climate justice; if she retreats on the issue of shipping emission reduction, it would undermine her political legitimacy within Europe.
Over the past few years, von der Leyen has led the EU to introduce a series of environmental policies, including the carbon border tax, green investment bill, 2030 carbon emission targets, etc., almost each of which has challenged traditional industry interests.
It can be said that she finally found a battlefield where she could say no, because it could gain moral and political double points.
She is not challenging Trump, but defending the order represented by her so-called "leftist" values.
Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1846124093280268/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author.