Russia to support Paris Climate Agreement despite US withdrawal

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich speaks during an interview at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) in Russia, June 2, 2017. (Photo by Reuters)

Russia will still stick to the Paris Climate Agreement despite the United States' pullout from the landmark deal, an official says.

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich said on Friday that US President Donald Trump's decision to pull the country out of the agreement would probably not affect Moscow’s commitment to protect the planet.

"We made the decision to join, and I don't think we will (change) it," the RIA news agency cited Dvorkovich as telling reporters at an economic forum in St. Petersburg.

"The deal simply amounts to a signal about the unity of countries around a certain theme. I don't think anyone doubts that the Americans will make environmental policy. We will definitely do this (make environmental policy) regardless of whether we are part of the agreement or not."

World leaders say they would remain committed to combating global warming despite Trump’s decision.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Trump's decision was “extremely regrettable and that’s putting it very mildly.”

However, she said his decision alone “can’t and won’t stop all those of us who feel obliged to protect the planet.”

Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang and the European Commission President Jean Claude Junker, attending an EU-China summit in the Belgian capital, Brussels, both pointed to the importance of protecting the planet. Leaders of Italy, Canada and France followed suit.

Many business leaders, such as Elon Musk of SpaceX and Jeffrey R. Immelt of General Electric, said they were strongly disappointed over Trump’s decision.

“Climate change is real. Leaving Paris is not good for America or the world,” Musk said in a message posted on Twitter.

Environmentalists around the globe also slammed Trump’s decision.

The United States, after China, is the world’s second largest emitter of greenhouse gases.