Former United States president Barack
Obama stressed the importance of the Paris agreement on
combatting climate change during a speech in Milan on Tuesday.
"With (Italian ex-premier) Matteo (Renzi) we helped give the
world a very significant agreement on the climate," said Obama,
who is on the second day of a two-day visit to Italy's business
capital.
Incoming French President Emmanuel Macron asked Obama's
successor President Donald Trump not to abandon the Paris
agreement during the phone call the tycoon made to congratulate
the former on his election, CNN reported a Macron spokesperson
as saying.
A crunch White House meeting on whether the Trump
administration should dump the deal was set to take place on
Tuesday, but has been postponed.
Obama, in Milan to address the Seeds and Chips fair, said he
was confident that "the United States will continue to move in
the right direction" on the Paris agreement.
He added that the fact the Trump administration had
differences of opinion with him was "part of democracy".
Obama said his work after leaving the White House is to
"train the next generation of leaders" in the world.
He said he had talked to Renzi on "setting up an efficient
network of global activists".
He also spoke about terrorism in Milan, arguing a shortage of
jobs was a factor.
"Technology is creating high capital intensity in many
economic sectors and less demand for labour and this will become
a problem in the advanced world," he said.
"This is one of the things that worries me most. I am certain
that this is part of the problem that instigates radicalization
and terrorism in many countries of the Middle East and south
Asia.
"If many young people are unemployed they will channel their
energies in an unhealthy way".
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