U.N. chief "expects local government role" in withdrawing from U.S. climate agreement in Paris

Secretary-General António Guterres indirectly expressed regret over the U.S. administration's notice of withdrawal from the Paris climate agreement, saying he expects local governments and businesses in the U.S. to continue to show their vision and leadership.

"I am confident that cities, states, and businesses in the United States will continue to demonstrate their vision and leadership for resilient economic growth with low-carbon structures that will create quality jobs and markets for prosperity in the 21st century," Guterres said in a response through his spokesperson's office.

Shortly after Trump's inauguration, the White House said Trump is set to withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement.

Earlier, President Trump withdrew from the Paris Climate Agreement during his first term in office, and later rejoined the Paris Climate Agreement as soon as former President Joe Biden took office in 2021.

In his inaugural address, President Trump, who has defined climate change as fraud, stressed that he would expand oil and natural gas production in the United States and abolish the Green New Deal that the Biden administration has been pushing for.