TAORMINA, Italy, May 27 (Xinhua) -- Talks among leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) countries marked some progress on climate change though they failed to agree on it, French President Emmanuel Macron said Saturday.
"The G7 has showed that crucial issues such as climate change are not to be left to others," the newly elected French president told a press conference after the summit.
"Remaining engaged with the Paris (Climate Change) Agreement is essential for the international equilibrium, and also for the reputation of the United States," he added.
"Discussions on climate were rich, and I believe progress was made, a real exchange of views has taken place," Macron said.
Macron refused to speculate on what the final decision of the new U.S. administration with respect to the Paris deal might be.
"(U.S. President Donald) Trump is pragmatic, and a good listener," he said, voicing hope the talks with G7 partners would help the U.S. president "to become aware of the challenges that climate change puts also to the United States at economic level".
The split, nonetheless, remained. Trump did not agree to openly endorse the Paris climate change deal in the G7 closing statement, and confirmed the U.S. would take its time to assess whether to stick to its commitment, or pull out of the agreement.
"The U.S. is in the process of reviewing its policies on climate change... and thus is not in the position to join consensus on these topics," the communique read.
As the communique was being issued, Trump tweeted that "I will make my final decision on the Paris Accord next week!"
The Paris Agreement on climate change to cut carbon emissions at global level was sealed in Dec. 2015, and entered into force in Nov. 2016.
