Putin Says 'Don't Worry, Be Happy,' When Asked About Climate Change
Russian President Putin says he won't judge Trump for leaving Paris accord, but says there's still time to create new climate deal
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday he believed there was still time to get a global climate change deal done despite U.S. President Donald Trump saying he was pulling his country out of a landmark pact.
Speaking at the St Petersburg International Economic Forum, Putin said he did not want to judge Trump for his decision, but thought Washington could have remained in the 2015 Paris climate pact by amending the scale of existing U.S. undertakings.
Putin, whose own spokesman said this week that Russia attached great importance to the Paris accord, said: "Don't worry, be happy."
His comments drew some online humor, with some poking fun of Putin's usage of Bobby McFerrin's hit:
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"The (Paris) agreement is a good one. It's a proper document aimed at solving one of today's global problems," said Putin.
The Russian leader, who is keen to try to repair battered U.S.-Russia ties, said he thought there was no point dwelling on Trump's decision since the U.S. leader may be of the view that the necessary financial and other resources needed to comply with the accord may not be sufficient. It was now better to try to see what kind of climate deal could be agreed, said Putin.
"We need to create the conditions for joint work because if such big emitters of greenhouse gases like the United States won't take part at all we won't be able to agree and sign an agreement on this," said Putin.
Russia has signed the Paris climate pact, but is the biggest emitter of global greenhouse gases not to have ratified it yet.
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