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Trump’s views on climate change may change, says Kerry

US Secretary of State John Kerry on Wednesday said he hopes President-elect Donald Trump’s views on climate change might change…

Trump’s views on climate change may change, says Kerry

John Kerry (Photo: AFP)

US Secretary of State John Kerry on Wednesday said he hopes
President-elect Donald Trump’s views on climate change might change when he
“assumes office”.

Speaking at the UN Climate Conference here, Kerry tried to
dispel doubts about the new US government’s policies, saying it is a little bit
“different when you’re actually in office compared to when you’re on the
campaign trail”.

In his 45-minute address to the media, where scientists and
international delegates were also present, he said: “I can’t stand here
and speculate about what policies our President-elect will pursue.”

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“I will tell you this. In the time that I have spent in
public life, one of the things I’ve learned is that some issues look a little
bit different when you’re actually in office compared to when you’re on the
campaign trail.”

Without mincing words, the US Secretary, who has attended
all COPs in his career, said an “overwhelming majority of Americans know
that climate change is happening and want the US to honour its commitments
under the Paris Climate Agreement”.

He got a big applause from the audience on this remark that
the Paris Agreement deal has as a framework that is “built to last”.

US President-elect Donald Trump has called climate change a
“hoax” and vowed to cut off funding to the United Nations Climate
Change programmes.

He also said he would reduce the US’s involvement in the
Paris climate accord, which entered into force on November 4 and aims to
drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

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