US denies it will stay in Paris climate accord

Donald Trump seeks an alternative agreement that will favour US businesses. The US has insisted it will leave the Paris climate accord, despite reports that it may be softening its stance.

According to BBC, following a meeting of environment ministers recently, the EU climate commissioner, Miguel Arias Canete, said Trump officials had indicated the US would either stay in the 2015 accord or review its terms.

But the White House insisted there had been “no change” in the Unites States position.

In June President Donald Trump said the United States would withdraw from the deal.

He said it was part of his “solemn duty to protect America” and he would seek a new deal that would not disadvantage Unites States businesses.

But opponents say withdrawing from the accord is an abdication of Unites States leadership on a key global challenge.

The Paris agreement commits the Unites States and 187 other countries to keeping rising global temperatures “well below” 2C above pre-industrial levels and “endeavour to limit” them even more, to 1.5C.

Only Syria and Nicaragua did not sign up to the deal.