Climate change chasm widens

The US’ partners in the G7 club of wealthy democracies vowed on Sunday to pursue efforts to curb climate change despite a rift caused by the United States’ withdrawal from the Paris accord.

“G7 countries have crucial roles and responsibilities to our own public opinion, to developing countries and to the planet,” Italy’s environment minister Gian Luca Galletti said at the start of a two-day meeting of G7 environmental chiefs. “The international community

G7 countries have crucial roles and responsibilities to our own public opinion, to developing countries and to the planet

— Gian Galletti, Italian environment minister

awaits our message.”

Scott Pruitt, a friend of the oil industry, who is sceptical about man-made climate change and was Trump’s controversial choice to head the US Environmental Protection Agency, attended the meeting but was due to fly home after the first day.

With Germany’s environment minister, Barbara Hendricks, also departing early and France’s Nicolas Hulot not arriving until Monday because of legislative elections, there appeared little prospect of substantial dialogue on an issue that has caused significant tensions between Donald Trump’s administration and key US allies.

Adding to the frustration of the Italian hosts, Britain was represented by a junior minister as efforts to form a new government in London continued.