Duterte wondering why Trump withdrew US from Paris agreement

President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday wondered why his "friend," United States President Donald Trump, withdrew his country from the Paris climate accord.

Duterte repeated his concern over the compliance of industrialized nations to the international agreement on reducing carbon emissions as he recalled Trump's decision in June last year to withdraw from the deal.

"I had my doubts if could we ever compel the other nations especially the big and powerful ones to also obey the commonality of our determination," Duterte said during the Asia Pacific Healthy Islands Conference in Davao City.

"True enough, the United States withdrew from...I don’t know why. I have to fathom the reason or even the rationale of the withdrawal. Is it because it cannot work hand in hand with other nations or is it because Trump would like to do it alone?"

Trump was met with global condemnation for pulling out of the Paris agreement which he found to be a "bad deal" for the US economy.

In January, Trump said he would be willing to sign the US back up to the accord, but only if the treaty undergoes major change.

"And so we would like to see at least my country, that there’s really something of a good faith on the part of everybody to do his share of the endeavor," Duterte said.

"There has to be an enterprise in the approach, business-like, you honor your word. You do not exceed the limits that we have set for ourselves. And the one thing that I said we cannot really control are those countries who are highly industrialized and powerful enough to impose their own will. That’s the problem."

Duterte said climate change is a "day-to-day problem" as he urged nations that are party to the agreement to fulfill their obligation.

"Climate change is not a typhoon that visits your country once or twice a year. Climate change is a day-to-day problem and a day-to-day polishing, what ought to be the objectives of this country and for them," he said.

As part of efforts to curtail the effects of climate change, the Philippines joined nearly 200 countries in a landmark deal in Paris in December 2015 to cut greenhouse gas emissions to limit the rise in global temperatures to below two degrees Celsius.

Duterte had earlier threatened not to recognize the Philippines' commitment to the agreement backed by his predecessor, Benigno Aquino III, arguing that the mandated reduction of carbon emissions in countries like the Philippines might impede the country’s industrial growth.

Prevailed over by his Cabinet, Duterte signed the Instrument of Accession, which was deposited to the United Nations, in March last year. — BAP, GMA News