Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi vowed after meeting French President Emmanuel Macron on Saturday to go "above and beyond" the Paris Agreement on climate change, after the US said it would quit the deal.

Two days after US President Donald Trump sensationally announced plans to withdraw from the pact on curbing carbon emissions Modi said protecting "mother Earth" was part of Indian culture. "For Indians, environmental protection is a profession of faith because we learn it in the vedas (ancient Hindu scriptures)," he said.

Macron has led Europe's defence of the Paris accord, endearing himself to opponents of Trump's stance. Reacting to Trump's announcement, Macron issued an appeal in English to "make the planet great again" - a play on Trump's pledge to "make America great again" that has been retweeted a quarter of a million times. Trump's decision to scrap the Paris deal has left him isolated on the world stage.

Billionaire climate advocate Michael Bloomberg made an unannounced visit to Macron in Paris on Friday to discuss bolstering the pact.

"Today I want the world to know the US will meet our Paris commitment, and through a partnership among cities, states, and businesses, we will seek to remain part of the Paris agreement process," Bloomberg said.

Bloomberg pledged $15 million to support the agreement's coordinating agency in the event the US refused to pay its share. -

Source: Khaleej Times