Trump should 'listen to scientists' on climate

(Credit: AFP)

CLIMATE CHANGE

Prince Albert of Monaco has advised US President Donald Trump to "listen a little more carefully to scientists" following his decision to pull the US out of the Paris climate deal.

A strong environmental advocate, Albert was at the United Nations to attend the first-ever UN ocean conference aimed at agreeing on a strategy to reverse the decline of the oceans.

The withdrawal from the 190-plus nation pact of the world's biggest carbon emitter after China is, "in everybody's mind, catastrophic," Albert told a news conference.

Asked what he would tell Trump, the prince said: "very simply to listen a little more carefully to scientists and to the scientific evidence that has been out there for quite a while now."

"I think he should listen more to people who have been dealing with these issues for quite some time now," he added.

French president Emmanuel Macron (L) shakes hands with Monaco's Prince Albert II. (AFP)

While Trump's decision was "disheartening," it also has galvanized the corporate world, US mayors and state governors to "keep going and keep the fight against climate change alive," he said.

Albert noted that the process of withdrawal from the Paris deal could take at least 3.5 years and that "everybody is crossing their fingers" that there might be a reversal of the decision.

"We are not doing this just for ourselves, but for future generations. That should resonate in most people's minds and hearts," he said.

The previous US administration signed the 2015 non-binding accord under which countries have agreed to take voluntary action to meet targets for reducing carbon emissions.

Trump argued that the deal could harm the US economy.