“The Paris Agreement remains a cornerstone of cooperation between our countries to address climate change effectively and in a timely manner and to implement the Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda. We strongly believe that the Paris Agreement cannot be renegotiated , as a vital tool for our planet, societies and economies. We are convinced that the implementation of the Paris Agreement offers great economic opportunities for prosperity and growth in our countries and on a global scale”. Thus the German Chancellor Angela Merkel, the Italian premier Paolo Gentiloni and the French president Emmanuel Macron in a joint note, in which they "recognized with regret the decision of the United States to withdraw from the climate agreement".
The US decision to leave the Paris agreement - said German Chancellor Angela Merkel - "will not be able to stop all those among us who feel obliged to protect the planet". According to Prime Minister Gentiloni “there is an agreement, that of Paris on the climate, which must be maintained and we will maintain it. And I hope that the United States can review the position it took yesterday."
"America remains committed to the transatlantic alliance and efforts to protect the environment": this is the reassurance - explains the White House - that Donald Trump gave to Angela Merkel, Emmanuel Macron, Theresa May and Justin Trudeau in the talks telephone calls after the decision to withdraw the US from the Paris climate agreement. "The leaders agreed to continue the dialogue and strengthen cooperation on environmental issues and other issues," reads the note.
The Vatican also intervened on the matter with a harsh statement: "A disaster for humanity and for the planet". This is how Monsignor Marcelo Sanchez Sorondo, Chancellor of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences comments on the microphones of inBlu Radio on the decision of US President Donald Trump to withdraw from the Paris climate agreement. “This – he adds – goes against what the Pope said, which is based in Laudato si' on scientific consensus, and therefore against science”. A "terrible decision" given the importance of America which could set a bad example for other nations, underlined Sorondo.
China also confirms that it will keep its commitments under the Paris climate agreement. "We believe it reflects the broad approval of the international community on the issue of climate change," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying reiterated at a press conference. Stakeholders "should cherish this hard-won achievement," she added, stressing the importance of ensuring "concrete measures" in response to the climate change crux.
