Trudeau tells Trump Canada is disappointed by withdrawal from Paris climate deal

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has spoken with Donald Trump and expressed his disappointment with the U.S. president's decision to pull out of the Paris climate change agreement.

According to a statement released by the Prime Minister's Office, the two leaders spoke after Trump made his announcement about withdrawing from the deal earlier Thursday. They also discussed trade relations between the two countries, according to the statement. 

The Prime Minister's Office released a statement from Trudeau reacting to the U.S. decision to abandon the global climate deal. 

"We are deeply disappointed that the United States federal government has decided to withdraw from the Paris agreement," Trudeau said in the statement. "Canada is unwavering in our commitment to fight climate change and support clean economic growth. Canadians know we need to take decisive and collective action to tackle the many harsh realities of our changing climate."

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Trudeau said that the U.S. decision is disappointing, but there was "growing momentum" around the world to stay in the fight and transition to a clean growth economy. 

"This is about an ambitious and unshakable desire to leave a cleaner, healthier and more sustainable planet for our kids and for generations to come," Trudeau said. 

The prime minister said he would continue to work with the U.S. "at the state level" and to continue to reach out to the U.S. federal government to make the case that fighting climate change is "of critical importance for all humankind." 

Global growth in clean tech

Canada's Environment Minister Catherine McKenna called Trump's Rose Garden announcement "deeply disappointing," and suggested the president is costing the U.S. a golden opportunity to profit from the inevitable growth of clean-tech initiatives around the globe.

"The clean-growth economy is where the world is going and Canada is going to be part of it," McKenna said on Parliament Hill following Thursday's White House news conference.

"Canada wants to create good jobs, and wants to grow our economy and create opportunities for business. We want to be there, we want to be providing solutions for the world. We know where we're going." 

Other significant stakeholders in the U.S. disagree with the president's decision, McKenna said.

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"I've seen in the United States that businesses support the Paris accord and climate action; businesses support it, cities support it and everyone's moving forward, in the United States and around the world," she said.

"It's unfortunate that the U.S. administration says they're pulling out of the Paris agreement, but you can't stop progress."

One of those in the U.S. disappointed with the decision is former U.S. presidential candidate Mitt Romney who posted his reaction to the decision on Twitter. 

France reacts

In an unusual move, newly elected French President Emmanuel Macron posted a video on Twitter, addressing Americans, and the world directly, in English. 

"The president of the United States, Donald Trump, announced his decision to withdraw the United States from the Paris agreement. I do respect this decision, but I do think it is an actual mistake, both for the U.S. and for our planet."

Macron addressed Americans directly, saying the world believes in them, before inviting scientists and businesses discouraged by Trump's decision to move to France and make it their "second homeland."

"I call on them — come here and work here with us, to work together on concrete solutions for our climate, our environment. I can assure you France will not give up the fight."

Macron said the Paris agreement was "irreversible" and would be implemented by the rest of the world.

"We will succeed because we are fully committed," Macron said. "Because wherever we live, whoever we are, we all share the same responsibility: Make our planet great again."

Trump spoke with Macron before the French president's global address, and the U.S. president also spoke with the leaders of Germany and Britain, who both expressed disappointment with the move. 

A spokesperson for U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May told Reuters that the Paris agreement is a global framework for protecting prosperity and the security of future generations. 

Reuters is also reporting that Mexican President Pena Nieto said his country will remain committed to the Paris climate deal. The Mexican Foreign Ministry went as far as to say that actions to stop climate change are a "moral imperative."

The U.S. joins Syria and Nicaragua as the only two countries that are part of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change who are not parties to the Paris agreement.

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