The G-7 summit ended on Saturday in Italy without reaching an agreement on climate change, as the Trump administration plans to take more time to consider whether the United States will remain in the Paris pact on reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
The remaining six of the seven nations decided to continue with their commitment in implementing the 2015 Paris deal, which aims at reducing the rate of global warming.
The U.S. decision on the climate change and Paris accord is still pending
The final statement issued by the group after deliberating for two days in Taormina reiterated that the U.S.
was not in the position to reach an agreement on climate change and the Paris accord as they were still deliberating on it.
President Trump stated in a tweet that he would make a decision on the issue next week. This was announced on the last day of the President’s first foreign trip following his decline to remain committed to the climate deal, resisting the mounting pressure by leaders of the international community at the summit.
The chairman of the summit, Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni, reiterated that the Group wasn’t willing to change their position on climate change irrespective of the stands of the U.S.
Gentiloni also stated that climate was a serious issue and that he hoped the U.S.
would take a decision soon enough as their contribution was necessary for the Paris accords.
President Macro commends Donald Trump on his capacity to listen
The President of France Emmanuel Macro in a statement commended the U.S. president for his capacity to listen.
The German Chancellor Angela Merkel expressed her dissatisfaction on the climate talks.
Trump is yet to brief the media on Russia controversy since he began his 9-day-trip. Some of his senior economic and national security aide refused to respond to questions during a press conference held on Saturday.
The summit reached a consensus on trade
However, the summit was successful in reaching a consensus on the topic of trade.
They re-established a pledge to combat protectionism- this is the use of import taxes and regulations that give domestic producers an edge over their foreign competitors. This pledge has been in previous G-7 statements but was recently excluded after a meeting held in Italy by the group’s finance ministers. The leaders made a commitment to keep an open market as well as say no to protectionism.
