28/05/2017

Donald Trump Isolated On Climate Change In 'Intense' Exchange At G7 Summit

Fairfax - Arne Delfs | Margaret Talev (Bloomberg)

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Donald Trump was isolated on climate change at the Group of Seven meeting on Friday, as the US president said he's in no rush to decide whether to scrap his country's involvement in the Paris Agreement.
A closed-door session on the first day of the G7 summit in Sicily found unity on stepping up efforts to combat terrorism, but entered stormier waters on trade and on climate, Mrs Merkel said. At that stage it was six against one as leaders pressed Trump to hold to US agreements made under the landmark Paris climate accord.

G7 summit braces for clash on trade, climate
US President Donald Trump's views on climate change are "evolving" following discussions with European leaders who are pushing for him to stay in the Paris climate accord.

 "We made it clear that we want the US to stick to its commitments," Mrs Merkel told reporters after the meeting on Friday. "There were very different arguments from us all urging the president to hold to the climate accord." She said the discussion was conducted in a very "honest" atmosphere, leading to a "very intense exchange."
After deriding climate change as a hoax and pledging to pull out of the Paris deal during his election campaign, Mr Trump has sidestepped the issue and passed up an number of opportunities to outline his international stance toward global warming. Members of his administration are deadlocked about whether the US should uphold the pact.
Mrs Merkel said that the US side made clear that it hasn't yet taken a decision on whether to scrap Paris "and won't make a decision here" at the G7.

Taking time
In the meeting, G7 leaders asked Mr Trump his timeframe for making a decision, according to a briefing by his top economic adviser, Gary Cohn. Mr Trump said, "I'd rather take my time" and get to the right decision, Mr Cohn told reporters travelling with Mr Trump in Sicily.
Mr Trump also expressed concerns that other countries that had tried to dial back their climate emissions like China and India had seen job growth suffer - and made clear he was not prepared to live with that trade-off, Mr Cohn said.
Mr Trump told the leaders, "he didn't want to be in second place," Mr Cohn said, especially because he ran on a platform of job creation and improving working-and middle-class opportunities and is committed to keeping that promise, Mr Cohn said.
G7 leaders, from left, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, President Donald Trump, and Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni. Photo: AP
Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni, the summit's host, said separately that there was "no agreement" on the Paris accord.
"President Trump will take time to reflect on it, and the other countries are taking note of that," Mr Gentiloni said.
G7 leaders met in Sicily on Friday to discuss trade, climate change, refugees and other issues.  Photo: Getty Images
"His views are evolving," Mr Cohn said, but Mr Trump's decision will be based on what's best for the United States. The president "is thinking about what his options are." Mr Trump "feels much more knowledgeable on the topic now," said Mr Cohn.

Pared down statement expected
Group of Seven leaders are preparing to sign off on a substantially pared-down statement at the close of their meeting, an indication of persisting divisions on climate change and trade.
Mr Trump and First Lady Melania, talk with Mr Trudeau as they arrive for a concert in the Sicilian citadel of Taormina. Photo: AP
The final communique - 32 pages last year - traditionally outlines the common positions of G7 leaders on the economy and other global issues requiring joint action by the world's leading powers. This year's statement is on pace to be one-third the length of last year's in Japan, according to three officials from delegations involved in the preparation.
Drafts of the communique as of Friday were due to address topics such as migration and gender equality. The "ongoing large-scale movement" of migrants and refugees calls for "coordinated efforts," according to a draft of the communique seen by Bloomberg News.
"We reaffirm the sovereign rights of states to control their own borders and set clear limits on net migration levels, as key elements of their national security and economic well-being," according to the draft.
The nations are also set to say gender equality is fundamental for human rights. The leaders also issued a separate statement on counter-terrorism efforts that called on social media companies to do more in the fight against terrorism.

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