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Friday 2 June 2017
World leaders reaffirm commitment to fighting climate change

By KIRSTEN GRIESHABER States would be willing to fund with 53 billion euro vowed to continue efforts a single charge and a net
FRANK JORDANS rejoin the accord if it could ($59.5 billion) in assets un- to reduce greenhouse gas price of less than $30,000.
Associated Press obtain more favorable der its management said emissions blamed for glob- Bill Ford, chairman of
BERLIN (AP) — World lead- terms, but a French official it would also continue to al warming. the Ford Motor Co., also
ers pledged Thursday to said President Emmanuel invest in renewable energy New Orleans Mayor Mitch weighed in, saying: “We
keep up the fight against Macron told the American despite the American presi- Landrieu, the group’s vice believe climate change
global warming as U.S. leader during a 5-minute dent’s decision, saying in president, said withdrawal is real, and remain deeply
President Donald Trump telephone call that nothing a statement that “Donald from the agreement was committed to reducing
announced he was pulling in the Paris agreement was Trump is jumping off a train “shortsighted” and called greenhouse gas emissions
in our vehicles and our fa-
cilities.”
Before Trump announced
his decision Thursday after-
noon, Chinese Premier Li
Keqiang told reporters dur-
ing a visit to Berlin that fight-
ing global warming was a
“global consensus” and an
“international responsibil-
ity.”
Without mentioning the
U.S. specifically, Li said that
“China in recent years has
stayed true to its commit-
ment” and pointed out
that his was one of the first
countries to ratify the 2015
Paris Agreement.
Germany’s Angela Merkel,
who in the past has been
dubbed the “climate chan-
cellor” for her efforts to fight
global warming, said her
country would “continue to
fulfill our obligations under
the Paris climate agree-
ment as part of the Euro-
pean framework.”
Five Nordic countries wrote
a last-minute letter to Trump
In this April 27, 2017 photo, smoke billows out of the chimneys of the Neurath lignite power plant in Neurath. Germany. World lead-
ers pledged Thursday to keep up the fight against global warming as U.S. President Donald Trump announced he was pulling out of before his announcement,
the Paris climate accord. saying the Paris accord
(Federico Gambarini/dpa via AP) was a commitment “to our
children.”
“We must reduce global
out of the Paris climate ac- renegotiable. The official that has already left the climate change a grave warming,” the leaders of
cord. was not allowed to speak station.” threat to coastal commu- Denmark, Finland, Iceland,
The European Union’s top publicly on the matter be- Chief executive Odd Arild nities, the nation and the Norway and Sweden said
climate change official fore Macron addressed the Grefstad cited the growth world. in a short, joint missive. “The
said Trump’s decision to issue later in the evening. of renewable energy in U.S. Inventor and entrepreneur effects are already visible
leave the Paris accord Paris City Hall was symboli- states such as Texas, New Elon Musk said he would in all parts of our planet.”
made it “a sad day for the cally bathed in green light York and California as signs keep his promise to end his Abandoning the pact iso-
global community.” on Thursday night following that “the world has started participation in two presi- lates the U.S. from a raft
The EU climate action com- the American president’s the transition from fossil to a dential councils after Trump of international allies who
missioner, Miguel Arias announcement. renewable economy.” issued his decision. spent years negotiating
Canete, said in a state- U.N. Secretary-General An- In Mexico, former Presi- “Climate change is real. the accord to fight global
ment that the bloc “deeply tonio Guterres called the dent Vicente Fox criticized Leaving Paris is not good warming and pollution by
regrets the unilateral deci- U.S. withdrawal from the Trump’s move, saying on for America or the world,” reducing carbon emissions.
sion by the Trump admin- Paris climate agreement Twitter: “He’s declaring war the CEO of electric car While traveling abroad last
istration” but vowed “the “a major disappointment” on the planet itself.” maker Tesla Inc. tweeted week,
world can continue to and said it was “crucial Fox, who has clashed with shortly after Trump officially Trump was repeatedly
count on Europe for global that the United States re- Trump since last year’s pres- withdrew the U.S. from the pressed to stay in the deal
leadership.” mains a leader on environ- idential campaign, said the global climate pact. by European leaders and
Canete also predicted that mental issues,” according American leader’s decision Meanwhile, General Mo- Pope Francis. Withdraw-
the EU would seek new alli- to his spokesman. “condemns this genera- tors, the No. 1 U.S. automak- ing would leave the Unit-
ances from the world’s larg- Italian Premier Paolo Genti- tion and those to come” er, said it would continue its ed States as one of just
est economies to the most loni said on Twitter that Italy and would leave “a dark commitment to “creating three countries outside the
vulnerable island states, as will keep its commitments legacy just to satisfy your a better environment.” The agreement. The other two
well as U.S. businesses and for reducing emissions, re- greediness.” automaker highlighted its are Syria and Nicaragua.
individuals supportive of newable energy and sus- The U.S. Conference of development of the Chev- Russia joined the chorus
the accord. tainable development. Mayors said it strongly op- rolet Bolt electric vehicle speaking out for the cli-
Trump said that the United Norway’s largest pension posed Trump’s action and with 238 miles of range on mate accord. q