Climate Change

[On COP 25 in Madrid] [The Paris rulebook is] already quite good. If [an agreement on carbon markets] doesn't get done this year, I wouldn't panic about that. To me, the more important thing is that it should not get done in a manner that lacks environmental integrity.

[On the U.S. intention to withdraw from the Paris Agreement] It's damaging the international effort because the US is a big and important player. It's also important to note that there's a tremendous amount of climate action and activity in the US at the sub-national level by states and cities. The focus is particularly on states and cities that account for 68 percent of GDP, 65 percent of the population and more than 50 percent of emissions in the US. There's still some room for collaboration on the subnational level, and plenty of opportunities for think tanks and others to collaborate.

[On the U.S. intention to withdraw from the Paris Agreement and climate change] Actions on Paris undermine U.S. credibility, and the damage from that will be lasting – as they will from our actions in Syria and many other places.

What the world most needs right now is a clear recognition of the scale and speed of decarbonisation we need, a clear plan to produce that transformation, and the political will to do what it takes. Europe has always been a climate leader and looks ready to take that leadership to the next level.

[On climate and international relations] The ongoing (often petty) expansion of the trade war with China will amplify the damage to the U.S.-China relationship. That relationship is fraught with challenges that go far beyond the Trump administration, but it is impossible to get serious about climate without a serious engagement with China.