Trump stands alone as 19 of the G20 leaders stick with Paris agreement on climate change and German Chancellor Merkel brands US decision to quit ‘regrettable’
19 of the 20 leaders gave their backing to Paris agreement on climate change
German Chancellor Angela Merkel described US position as ‘regrettable’
She confirmed that consensus had not been reached on the environment
The G20 summit did yield an agreement between all countries on trade
By DAVE BURKE
DAILYMAIL.COM
8 July 2017
US President Donald Trump found himself alone at the G20 summit over climate change, as the other 19 members described the Paris climate accord as ‘irreversible’.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel today described the US position as ‘regrettable’.
She told reporters at the end of the two-day meeting: ‘I think it’s very clear that we could not reach consensus, but the differences were not papered over, they were clearly stated.’
Merkel said she does not agree with British Prime Minister Theresa May, who yesterday claimed Washington could decide to return to the agreement, which aims to lower emissions of greenhouse gases.
Scientists believe these are responsible for global warming.
Leaders of the 20 largest economies in the world, including Trump, did reach a common statement about the other contentious issue at the summit – trade.
The statement retains the G-20’s longstanding rejection of protectionism.
But it also acknowledged that trade must be mutually beneficial and that countries can use ‘legitimate’ trade defenses to protect workers and industries against being taken advantage of by trade partners.
Merkel said discussions at the summit today had been ‘difficult’, but said leaders had achieved ‘good results in some areas’.
She said: ‘I can only call things as they are.’
She pointed to a hard-won agreement on trade, one in which she said ‘every word was weighed’.
The Rest…HERE
