UPDATE - G20 split on climate

ADDS REMARKS BY TURKISH PRESIDENT

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”.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told reporters in Hamburg that 19 members voiced commitment to the Paris accord but many are uncomfortable with the deal.

Whether Turkey ratifies the accord after the U.S.’s decision to withdraw from the agreement would depend if Ankara’s partners honor their promises to support climate-friendly policies, Erdogan said.

“I had frank conversations with [French President Emmanuel] Macron and German Chancellor Merkel on this,” he said. “Unless promises made to us are fulfilled, we will not ratify it at our parliament.”

Erdogan emphasized that last year, former French President Francois Hollande, who championed the Paris deal, promised Turkey would be regarded as a developing country and would not face financial sanctions.

Ss part of the Paris deal, industrialized nations pledged financial support for developing countries for climate protection measures, technology transfer and capacity building programs,.

The agreement was signed by 195 countries last April and intends to mitigate the effects of climate change by reducing carbon emissions and limiting global temperature rise to below 2 degrees Celsius.