US refuse to sign G7 pledge on 'irreversible' Paris climate accord

The US say their priorities are "preserving both a strong economy and a healthy environment".

The United States has refused to sign a G7 pledge that calls the Paris climate accord the "irreversible" global tool to address climate change.

The G7 environment ministers issued a final communique today after their two-day meeting, the first since the United States announced it was withdrawing from the Paris climate pact.