No deal on climate change at G7 summit in Sicily

No deal on climate change at G7 summit in Sicily
By Euronews
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Climate change remains a sticking point, but some progress is made on trade at the G7.

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“The question of the Paris climate accord is still hanging” according to Italian Prime Minister and host of the G7 summit, Paolo Gentiloni. However some progress has reportedly been made on a trade agreement.

Speaking from the Sicily talks, Gentiloni said US President Donald Trump remained unconvinced of the merits of backing the climate deal, despite other leaders from the world’s major industrialised nations confirming “their total agreement.”

Some, such as German Chancellor Angela Merkel, had been hoping to change his mind.

“All the participants presented the US president with diverse arguments, all in favour of the US remaining a member of the climate change convention,” she said. “I would not speak of confrontation; rather I would say it was a very controversial exchange but a very productive one.”

Trump had previously described climate change as a hoax and threatened to pull out of the Paris pact.

.@realDonaldTrump Solar power and other renewables are creating more jobs than fossil fuels – the U.S. economy benefits from #ParisAgreementpic.twitter.com/ZcAFru5RmW

— EnergyBoom (@EnergyBoom) May 26, 2017

His comments prompted a demonstration on a nearby beach, where Greenpeace activists called on the other G7 nations to move forward with their commitments to stem global warming with or without US approval.

A message for world leaders meeting at the G7: We need action on climate change. NOW. #G7summitpic.twitter.com/SxFdnGNmd9

— Greenpeace (@Greenpeace) May 26, 2017

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