G20 closes with rebuke to Trump's climate stance

International Desk: German Chancellor Angela Merkel closed the G20 summit in Hamburg with a rebuke to President Donald Trump's stance on climate change, but the group of the world's economic leaders appeared to make a concession on his protectionist trade policies.

Officials had been at an impasse over an increasingly isolationist United States and Trump's climate change and trade policies for most of the summit, and Merkel made it clear the United States had made talks difficult.

"Unfortunately -- and I deplore this -- the United States of America left the climate agreement, or rather announced their intention of doing this," Merkel said as she closed the summit and presented a G20 declaration.

She said the other 19 members of the G20, which includes the European Union, agreed that the Paris climate accord was irreversible and that they remained committed to it.

Trump faced global outrage last month when he announced he would withdraw the United States from the agreement, which obliges countries to reduce their carbon emissions to ward off catastrophic global warming.

The G20 declaration noted the US withdrawal from the accord but said the country affirmed its "strong commitment to an approach that lowers emissions while supporting economic growth and improving energy security needs."

After the summit, Russian President Vladimir Putin called climate change a "major issue" and said Merkel had reached a "good compromise."

"Although the US will withdraw, they are nevertheless still prepared to carry on now (with) discussions on this subject. It seems to me this is a very positive point and can be chalked up to the successes of Angela Merkel," Putin said.

British Prime Minister Theresa May said that she was dismayed at the US climate stance and that she had urged Trump to reconsider.

And Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that "strong economic growth and environmental protection can go hand in hand."

"This is the narrative that we have been sharing ... and was enthusiastically supported by just about everyone here at the G20."

Source: CNN


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