COP26: Barack Obama criticises Donald Trump for pulling out of Paris Agreement

Barack Obama “wasn’t real happy” about former president Donald Trump’s decision to pull the US out of the Paris climate agreement, he told delegates at Cop26.

“Some of our progress stalled when my successor decided to unilaterally pull out of the Paris Agreement in his first year in office,” he said.

“I wasn’t real happy about that.

“And yet, the determination of our state and local governments, along with the regulations and investment that my administration had already put in place, we were able to keep moving forward despite hostility from the White House.”

The US met its obligations under the Paris Agreement despite the tenure of Donald Trump in the White House, former president Barack Obama has said.

“Despite four years of active hostility towards climate science coming from the very top of our federal government, the American people managed to still meet our original commitment under the Paris Agreement,” he said.

“And not only that, the rest of the world stayed in the deal.

“And now, with President Biden and his administration rejoining the agreement, the US government is once again engaged and prepared to take a leadership role.”

Barack Obama said he had a “hard time” staying away from Cop26 in Glasgow.

“Even though I’m not required to attend summits like this this any more, old habits die hard,” he told the climate change summit.

“And when the issue at hand is the health of our planet, and the world our children and our grandchildren will inherit, then you will have a hard time keeping me away.

“That’s why I’m here today.”