French President Emmanuel Macron has urged those tackling climate change to 'make our planet great again' after US President Donald Trump pulled the US from the Paris accord.
He said that Trump made a historic error in abandoning the Paris climate agreement, and urged frustrated US climate scientists and entrepreneurs to come and work in France.
Speaking in a TV address delivered in French and English, Mr Macron said he respected Trump's decision "but I do think it is an actual mistake both for the US and for our planet."
During the speech Macron said "Climate change is one of the major issues of our time. It is already changing our daily lives but it is global."
Shared responsibility
"Everyone is impacted and if we do nothing our children will know a world of migrations, of wars of shortage, a dangerous world, it is not the future we want for ourselves, it is not the future we want for our children, it is not the future we want for our world."
"To all scientists, engineers, entrepreneurs, responsible citizens who were disappointed by the decision of the president the United States, I want to say that they will find in France a second homeland.
"I call on them, come and work here with us, to work together on concrete solutions for our climate, our environment."
He finished his speech by saying "we all share the same responsibility: make our planet great again."
We all share the same responsibility: make our planet great again. pic.twitter.com/IIWmLEtmxj
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) June 1, 2017
Climate change
Meanwhile, European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker said earlier this morning that there will be "no backsliding" on the Paris climate accord.
He was speaking in Brussels during talks with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang. He said "Our joint leadership provides business, investors and researchers both in Europe and China and throughout the world the certainty they need to build a global low carbon economy.
"And it makes a statement to the world: there is no reverse gear to the energy transition, there is no backsliding on the Paris agreement."
Mr Li also said: "We need to uphold rules, especially multilateral rules. In this world we will be in a jungle without rules. China always upholds multilateral rules, including WTO rules."
Juncker further outlined his position on Twitter saying "Our commitment to the #ParisAgreement is unshakeable. We will continue to lead the fight against #ClimateChange."
Our commitment to the #ParisAgreement is unshakeable. We will continue to lead the fight against #ClimateChange.
— Jean-Claude Juncker (@JunckerEU) June 2, 2017
