Barack Obama calls on US, China to ‘lead the way’ on climate change at conference in Milan

FORMER US president, Barack Obama, has called on America and China to “lead the way” in the fight against climate change.

The United States and China have to lead the way in the fight against climate change, former US president Barack Obama says. Picture: AFP/Andreas Solaro

FORMER US president, Barack Obama, has called on America and China to “lead the way” in the fight against climate change.

Speaking as the future of the landmark Paris climate accord hangs in the balance, he acknowledged differences with his successor Donald Trump, but said the private sector also had a role to play.

“It’s important that big countries that are big emitters like the US and China ... lead the way,” he told a conference in the Italian city of Milan, saying developing countries were watching them.

Barack Obama (left) speaks with Sam Kass, food entrepreneur and former White House chef, at the ‘Seed & Chips: The Global Food Innovation Summit’ in Milan. Picture: AFP/Andreas Solaro

Referring to Mr Trump, he said: “The current administration has differences with my administration in terms of environmental policy.”

But he added: “The good news is the private sector has already made a determination that the future is clean energy. Those things are locked in now, into the energy sector.

“Because of the debates taking place in the current administration the steps may be taken more slowly than they would have been done, but I’m confident.”

Barack Obama called on the administrations of Chinese President Xi Jinping (left) and US President Donald Trump (right) to take action on climate change. Picture: AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File

While campaigning last year, Mr Trump called climate change a hoax perpetrated by China, and promised to cancel the deal if he won the presidency.

Now, after months of uncertainty, White House spokesman Sean Spicer said Mr Trump will make a decision on whether the US should remain in the Paris climate agreement after he returns from the May 26-27 G7 summit.

He said Mr Trump is continuing to hear from advisers on the pros and cons of the US remaining in the global accord, but that he will make a decision when he returns from the G7 summit in Italy, not prior to that as originally planned.

“It’s a sign that the president wants to continue to meet with his team ... and come to a decision on what’s (in) the best interest of the United States,” Mr Spicer told reporters overnight.

Giant machines dig for brown coal at the open-cast mining Garzweiler in front of a smoking power plant near the city of Grevenbroich in western Germany. Picture: AP Photo/Martin Meissner, File