European leaders stressed their commitment to the Paris climate accord Thursday, despite the American decision to pull out of the deal, ahead of a G-20 summit.
Following a meeting in Berlin hosted by Angela Merkel, Germany's chancellor told reporters that European G-20 participants are committed to the Paris climate deal and will discuss it at the summit next month.
"We deplore, at least I say that for Germany, that the United States of America has decided to leave this agreement," Merkel told reporters. "But we will obviously also address issues of climate change during the summit meeting.”
French president Emmanuel Macron echoed Merkel's statements, saying that European leaders had "reaffirmed their very strong commitment to the Paris accord".
Macron added, however, that "it is no use isolating a state." Merkel also spoke about the importance of the U.S. being in the group of 20 nations.
President Donald Trump announced last month that the U.S. would pull out of the Paris Climate Accord, which seeks to limit carbon emissions and reduce the rising global temperatures.
Trump calls the pact unfair to the U.S., saying it would hurt the economy while doing next to nothing to prevent global warming. He has proposed renegotiating the Paris accord. But other world leaders say that would be impossible.
Angela Merkel will host the Group of 20 economic powers in Hamburg on July 7 and July 8, where the world leaders are expected to discuss a number of issues in addition to climate change.
