US President Donald Trump has decried climate “prophets of doom” in a speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, where sustainability is the main theme.
He called for a rejection of “predictions of the apocalypse” and said America would defend its economy. Mr Trump did not directly name the teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg, who was in the audience.
In his keynote speech, Mr Trump said that it was a time for optimism, not pessimism in a speech that touted his administration’s economic achievements and America’s energy boom.
Speaking of climate activists, he said: “These alarmists always demand the same thing – absolute power to dominate, transform and control every aspect of our lives. “They were, he said, “the heirs of yesterday’s foolish fortune tellers”.
The US is withdrawing from the Paris climate agreement, which Mr Trump has called a “bad deal.” The pull-out will take effect the day after the 2020 US presidential election – assuming that Mr Trump is re-elected.
Mr Trump is at this very minute being tried by the Senate for Abuse of Power.
This information comes from the BBC News Channel. Follow the progress of discussions at the WEF at Davos on the BBC 24 hour News channel (Freeview Channel 231, Freesat Channel 200, BBC i-Player and on line https://www.bbc.co.uk/news)