World leaders reject Trump's claim Paris climate deal can be renegotiated Joint statement by France, Germany and Italy says deal cannot be redrafted, and calls on allies to speed up efforts to combat climate change

European leaders dismissed Donald Trump’s claim that the Paris climate accord can be renegotiated after the US president announced he will pull out of the deal struck in 2015 to seek better terms.

Shortly after Trump’s announcement the leaders of France, Germany and Italy released a joint statement rejecting Trump’s assertion that the climate deal can be redrafted.

Donald Trump confirms US will quit Paris climate agreement

 

Read more

“We deem the momentum generated in Paris in December 2015 irreversible and we firmly believe that the Paris Agreement cannot be renegotiated, since it is a vital instrument for our planet, societies and economies,” said chancellor Angela Merkel, president Emmanuel Macron and prime minister Paolo Gentiloni.

The three leaders called on their allies to speed up efforts to combat climate change and a promise to do more to help developing countries adapt.

Merkel called Trump immediately after he delivered his announcement, to personally express her regret at his decision, her spokesman Steffen Seibert said on Twitter.

During the conversation she stressed that Germany would stick to the agreement.

He added in another tweet in English: “Chancellor Merkel disappointed w/Pres. Trump’s decision. Now more than ever we will work for global policies that save our planet,” he wrote.

Immediately after her call to Trump, Merkel telephoned Macron, he said, and they agreed that “Germany and France will grasp at new initiatives in order to ensure the climate agreement is a success”.

In a televised address in French and English, Macron said that “committed an error for the interests of his country, his people and a mistake for the future of our planet.”

“I tell you firmly tonight: We will not renegotiate a less ambitious accord. There is no way,” said Macron. “Don’t be mistaken on climate; there is no plan B because there is no planet B.” 

In contrast, the British government was slow to respond to the announcement. Downing Street issued a statement saying that Prime Minister Theresa May had told Trump of her “disappointment” at his decision and stressed that Britain remained committed to the agreement.