LatAm countries 'deeply disappointed' by US withdrawal from climate deal

US Environmental Protection Agency administrator Scott Pruitt (L) and White House spokesman Sean Spicer attend a press briefing about President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw from the Paris Agreement at the White House in Washington D.C., capital of the United States, on June 2, 2017. [Photo/Xinhua]

The Pacific Alliance, a trade bloc that groups Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru, called the move "deeply disappointing," and reaffirmed its commitment to the Paris deal.

Speaking at the closing of an alliance meeting in Mexico City, Chilean Foreign Minister Heraldo Munoz, whose country holds the rotating presidency of the bloc, said the group was "highly concerned and deeply disappointed by the withdrawal of the United States from the Paris Agreement on climate change."

"We maintain our multilateral commitment to the Paris Agreement, because the fate of future generations depends on it," said Munoz, noting that many Latin American countries are vulnerable to climate change.

The accord, adopted by almost all countries in the world in 2015, commits nations to reducing the greenhouse gases emissions, with the United States expected to cut emissions by 28 percent by 2025.

On Thursday, US President Donald Trump announced his decision to quit the global agreement on grounds that the accord will hurt the US economy.

Other countries in Latin America also expressed their concern.

Bolivian President Evo Morales tweeted that the United States has a "history of exploiting the peoples and natural resources of the South."

Bolivian Environment Minister Carlos Ortuno called the decision "disappointing for Bolivia and the global community," and said Trump is putting Mother Earth and the future of humanity at risk.

Manuel Pulgar-Vidal, head of climate and energy matters at the World Wide Fund for Nature, called Trump's decision "a very irresponsible move, not just against the planet, but also against his own citizens."

"What's interesting is that only 25 percent of those who voted for him agree with the withdrawal," said Pulgar-Vidal, who is a former Peruvian environment minister.

The process of withdrawing from the deal takes some three years, and Pulgar-Vidal said he believed Trump will use that time to negotiate changes to the pact to benefit the United States.

"I think he is going to ... try to pressure countries to resume a negotiation that has already concluded," said the official.

Calling climate change a "hoax" during his electoral campaign, Trump has fulfilled his campaign promise with the withdrawal, but has aroused discord both abroad and at home.