Reaction to Trump's controversial decision to withraw from the Paris agreement
 

PARIS, 02 June. - (ANA) - The German chancelor, Angela Merkel calls Trump's Paris withdrawal 'extremely regrettable'

German Chancellor says world will 'combine forces more resolutely than ever to address challenges for humanity'

French Presidenr Emannuel Macron joins world leaders in vowing to 'make planet great again' after Trump quits climate accord

The French leader urged climate scientists to come to France

Macron has said “there is no Plan B” on climate change, declaring that “there is no way” that France will negotiate a less ambitious climate deal after US President Donald Trump announced he is withdrawing America from the Paris accord.

The leaders of France, Germany and Italy issued a joint statement saying they regretted Mr Trump's decision to pull out of the agreement, which was designed to avoid catastrophic levels of climate change fuelled by human activity.

Calling the President’s decision “a mistake” for the US as well as the planet, Mr Macron urged climate change scientists, engineers and entrepreneurs to go to France to continue their work. “They will find in France a second homeland,” Mr Macron said. 

That statement followed a swift outcry from politicians including the former US President Barack Obama – whose administration negotiated the deal.

The EU's top climate change official, Miguel Arias Canente, said in a statement that Mr Trump's decision to leave the Paris accord made it "a sad day for the global community," adding that the bloc "deeply regrets the unilateral decision."

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called the US withdrawal "a major disappointment" and said it was "crucial that the US remains a leader on environmental issues," according to his spokesman.

The United Kingdom reportedly declined to put its name to the statement, but the Prime Minister, Theresa May, said she had phoned the President to express her "disappointment" at the decision.

In his announcement at the White House, Mr Trump said he wants to “renegotiate” a fairer deal that would not disadvantage US businesses and workers.

The President said that by pulling out of the pact – which has been signed by almost 200 nations – he is keeping his campaign promise to stop international agreements that he believes disadvantage the US. - (ANA) -

AB/ANA/ 02 June 2017 - - -