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When It Comes To Climate Change, It's Just The G-19

The U.S. was the only outlier as world leaders stood by the Paris climate agreement at the G-20 summit Saturday.

When It Comes To Climate Change, It's Just The G-19

By: Jake Jones

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Nineteen of the Group of 20 agree on climate change, which set the U.S. apart from the world's other leading economic and developing nations.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who chaired this year's G-20 summit in Hamburg, Germany, said she "deplored" U.S. President Donald Trump's move to leave the Paris climate agreement.

In a declaration from the meeting, the rest of the leaders called the agreement "irreversible." The group notes the U.S. withdrew from the agreement but that the country "affirms its strong commitment" to lowering emissions — as long as the approach supports economic growth and improves "energy security needs."

The declaration also mentions free trade, which goes against Trump's "America First" ideology. The group said it "will keep markets open" and "continue to fight protectionism."