The Paris climate agreement is “irreversible and non-negotiable,” Chancellor Angela Merkel told the German Bundestag on Thursday, a week ahead of the Group of 20 summit in Hamburg.
The European Union’s remaining 27 members have expressed their “unequivocal” commitment to the plan to halt climate change despot the United States’ decision to leave, Merkel told the Bundestag.
US President, Donald Trump announced on June 1 that his country would cease participation in the 2015 agreement.
Merkel is hosting the G20 summit on July 7 and 8, which will bring together leaders including Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan.
Later on Thursday, Merkel was due to meet British Prime Minister, Theresa May, followed by a meeting with all European G20 leaders in preparation for the summit.
Tens of thousands of protesters are expected to descend on the northern German city next week, and authorities are preparing for some demonstrations to turn violent.
Merkel said that protests were “more than legitimate in a democracy,” but said she hopes they will remain peaceful.
NAN reports that the agreement for environmental action was signed by 195 nations.
The Paris agreement was intended to bind the world community into battling rising temperatures in concert, and the departure of the Earth’s second-largest polluter is a major blow.
Under the accord, the US had pledged to cut its greenhouse gas emissions 26 to 28 per cent below 2005 levels by 2025 and commit up to $3 billion in aid for poorer countries by 2020.
– NAN
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