国际英语新闻:Bolivian president urges U.S. to commit to Paris accord

LA PAZ, Oct. 24 (Xinhua) -- Bolivian President Evo Morales on Tuesday urged the international community to do more to compel the United States, "the world's biggest polluter," to abide by the Paris climate agreement.

In June, U.S. President Donald Trump, who once called climate change a "hoax," announced his country's withdrawal from the landmark accord, arguing that it hampered American businesses.

"It is urgent that the United Nations take drastic steps to return the United States to the Paris Agreement. As the world's biggest polluter, it must accept its responsibility ... respect the agreements, the commitments and implement them," said Morales.

The Bolivian leader made the remarks at a ceremony marking development cooperation between the UN and the South American country.

"The arrogance of any president or state has to end," said Morales, adding that "mankind cannot live without Mother Earth, though the planet can live better without mankind."

The Paris Agreement, reached in December 2015, commits almost every country in the world to reduce their emissions of greenhouse gases, a leading cause of climate change.

The United States and Syria are the only two holdouts on the global climate pact after Nicaragua signed the Paris climate agreement on Monday.

The Trump administration's anti-climate stance was widely criticized both at home and abroad.