In a Thursday statement, Trudeau displayed a similar mix of disapproval and optimism. Canada is “deeply disappointed that the United States federal government has decided to withdraw from the Paris Agreement,” Trudeau said, calling the decision “disheartening.” Unlike Macron, he added that Canada would “continue to reach out to the U.S. federal government to discuss this matter of critical importance for all humankind, and to identify areas of shared interest for collaboration, including on emissions reductions.”
A spokesman for Merkel issued a shorter response Thursday via Twitter, saying the German Chancellor had recently informed Trump of her disappointment. Seven Social Democratic ministers from Merkel’s government also said Thursday that the U.S. “is harming itself … and all the people of the world” by removing itself from the Paris Agreement. Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto took this sentiment a step further, arguing on Twitter that “efforts to slow climate change are a moral imperative.”
In Australia, the nation’s energy and environment minister, Josh Frydenberg, called Trump’s announcement “very significant,” but said that Australia would honor its commitment to the pact. “As our prime minister has made very clear, when we sign up to international agreements … we will follow through,” Frydenberg said. On the same day, Italian Prime Minister Gentiloni urged nations via Twitter not to “go backwards from the Paris Agreement.”
Russia has remained mum on the subject since Trump’s decision became public. Earlier on Thursday, amid speculation that Trump would withdraw, a spokesman for Russian President Vladimir Putin told journalists that “the effectiveness and realization of [the Paris Agreement] will be hampered without key participants.” While many foreign leaders fear the same, the majority seem determined to carry on in the absence of the U.S.
Article Appeared @https://www.theatlantic.com/news/archive/2017/06/world-leaders-disappointed-with-trump-after-climate-change-announcement/528924/