G20 split on climate

By Ayhan Simsek

HAMBURG, Germany (AA) - The world’s 20 largest economies could not reach a consensus Saturday on combatting climate change as U.S. President Donald Trump maintained his opposition to the Paris agreement signed last year.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel told a news conference at the end of the two-day G20 summit it was not possible to overcome differences with the U.S. administration.

“But I am very gratify to note that the other 19 member states of the G20 said that the Paris agreement is irreversible, that we feel committed to what we agreed on and it is be implemented as quickly as possible,” she said.

Despite its decision to withdraw from the Paris agreement, the U.S. said at the G20 Leaders’ Declaration that it is committed to "an approach that lowers emissions, while supporting economic growth and improving energy security needs”.

It also promised to work closely with other countries "to help them access and use fossil fuels more cleanly and efficiently and help deploy renewable and other clean energy sources”.

The Paris Agreement, spearheaded by Trump's predecessor, Barack Obama, and signed by 195 countries in April 2016, is intended to mitigate the effects of climate change by reducing carbon emissions and limiting global temperature rise to below 2 degrees Celsius.