Message to Trump? Countries say climate fight ‘irreversible’

Ministers of environment pose together for a photo at the launch of the 2050 Pathways Platform, at the COP22 climate change conference, in Marrakech, Morocco, Thursday, Nov. 17, 2016. Governments around the world are being asked to commit to reduce their national greenhouse gas emissions by at least 80% by 2050, relative to 1990 levels. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy) Ministers of environment pose together for a photo at the launch of the 2050 Pathways Platform, at the COP22 climate change conference, in Marrakech, Morocco, Thursday, Nov. 17, 2016. Governments around the world are being asked to commit to reduce their national greenhouse gas emissions by at least 80% by 2050, relative to 1990 levels. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)

By Associated Press November 17, 2016 1 min read

MARRAKECH, Morocco (AP) – Governments meeting for U.N. climate talks have reiterated their commitment to the Paris Agreement with a proclamation saying climate action is “irreversible,” the buzzword at the two-week conference after the uncertainty caused by the U.S. election.

The proclamation issued Thursday calls for “the highest political commitment to combat climate change” and reaffirms the promise by rich countries to mobilize $100 billion to help poor countries deal with it.

President-elect Donald Trump pledged during his campaign to “cancel” U.S. involvement in last year’s Paris deal and to cut off American funding for U.N. global warming programs.

Government delegates at the talks in Marrakech have downplayed his remarks and adopted a wait-and-see approach about how Trump will approach the Paris deal once in office.