UN chief urges US to retain Paris climate deal

The United Nations' (UN) secretary-general António Guterres has urged US President Donald Trump to retain the 2015 Paris climate agreement.

The call was made following Trump’s announcement to withdraw the US from the agreement, which aims to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions and promote security worldwide.

Guterres said in a statement: “The Paris Agreement was adopted by all the world’s nations in 2015 because they recognise the immense harm that climate change is already causing and the enormous opportunity that climate action presents. It offers a meaningful yet flexible framework for action by all countries.

“The transformation envisaged in the Paris Agreement is already under way. The secretary-general remains confident that cities, states, and businesses within the US, along with other countries, will continue to demonstrate vision and leadership by working for the low-carbon, resilient economic growth that will create quality jobs and markets for twenty-first century prosperity.

“It is crucial that the US remains a leader on environmental issues.”    

The UN is also calling upon the US Government and other countries in the world to build a sustainable future for the next generations.