SUVA, Sept. 8 (Xinhua) -- The United States has assured the Pacific leaders in the Samoan capital of Apia its leadership in the fight against climate change despite its decision to withdraw from the Paris climate change agreement.
The pact was signed in 2015 with each signatory agreeing to lower their greenhouse gas emissions in an effort to stave off the most drastic effects of climate change.
According to the Samoa Observer on Friday, the U.S. made the commitment on Thursday while attending a press conference in Apia where the Pacific leaders are participating in the annual Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) leaders meeting, which has been held since Tuesday.
Acting U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Susan Thornton, who is leading the U.S. delegation to the 48th PIF leaders meeting, said the U.S. government is still working through the details, with regards to their status on the Paris agreement.
"I think the United States is going to remain engaged on the issue of climate change agreement," she said.
The United States, which inked the Paris agreement under former President Barack Obama in 2015, had not fully left the Paris agreement, she said, adding that the United States had a seat in the board for the Green Global Fund with a 1 billion-U.S. dollar financial contribution.
U.S. President Donald Trump said in June this year that he has decided to pull the United States out of the Paris Agreement.
The U.S. move has angered the Pacific countries as they are at the forefront of the impact of climate change, which is currently on the top agenda of the 48th PIF leaders meeting in Samoa.
Tuvalu, one of the PIF member states, expressed its hope on Tuesday that countries need to work together to ensure the United States stays in the Paris climate change agreement.
