Donald Trump poised to pull US out of Paris climate change deal

Donald Trump is poised to withdraw the US from a major climate change deal designed to cut global carbon emissions, a White House official has said.

But there may be "caveats in the language" the US President uses to announce the move - leaving open the possibility that the decision might not be final, they added.

Minutes later Mr Trump tweeted that he would be "announcing my decision on the Paris Accord over the next few days", adding: "MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!"

I will be announcing my decision on the Paris Accord over the next few days. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 31, 2017

The US president had refused to endorse the landmark accord at the weekend and left the G7 summit in Sicily with a parting-shot tweet saying he had not made up his mind on whether to back it.

World leaders, who had hoped to put out a statement of consensus on the Paris Agreement, expressed their frustration, with German Chancellor Angela Merkel declaring: "We have a situation where six, or if you also include the EU seven, are against one."

The decision will put the US in league with Syria and Nicaragua as the world's only non-participants in the Paris Climate Agreement - brokered by Mr Trump's predecessor Barack Obama in 2015.

I will make my final decision on the Paris Accord next week!— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 27, 2017

Agreed on by up to 200 countries, the deal aims to reduce carbon dioxide and other emissions from the burning of fossil fuels.

The US is the world's second-biggest emitter of carbon dioxide behind China.

Under the deal, Mr Obama committed the US to cutting its emissions by between 26% and 28% from 2005 levels by 2025.

Mr Trump, who in a November 2012 tweet dismissed climate change as a hoax, pledged during his election campaign to "cancel" the accord within 100 days of becoming president to boost America's coal and oil industries.

The concept of global warming was created by and for the Chinese in order to make U.S. manufacturing non-competitive.— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) 6 November 2012

US withdrawal could have major implications on the pact which relies heavily on the commitment of big polluter nations to reduce gas emissions which scientists blame for rising sea levels, droughts and frequent violent storms.

The move could also lead to other nations weakening or stepping back from their pledges under the pact.

China, India, Canada and the EU have said they will stick by the deal, even if the US pulls out.

The United Nations responded with a tweet quoting Secretary-General Antonio Guterres as saying: "Climate change is undeniable. Climate action is unstoppable. Climate solutions provide opportunities that are unmatchable."

Sky's US Correspondent Amanda Walker said: "His daughter Ivanka Trump has been trying to encourage him to stay in the deal.