"Trump and Modi Wrap Climate Change Differences in Shroud of Silence"

"India sees its future in renewable energy and supports the Paris Agreement. Trump promotes fossil fuels. Neither leader mentioned climate in their public appearance."

"President Donald Trump's first meeting with his Indian counterpart, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, went off Monday with a conspicuous omission when the two leaders made no mention of climate change and just a passing reference to energy in their public remarks.

The subject had produced barbs between American and Indian officials in recent weeks after Trump singled out India and China as unfairly benefiting from the Paris climate agreement. When Trump announced he would withdraw the United States from the accord, he objected to India making its participation "contingent on receiving billions and billions and billions of dollars in foreign aid from developed countries."

While the country is seeking aid, India's External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj quickly shot back that "India signed the Paris climate pact not because of pressure from any country or due to lure of money. Our signature in the pact was not because of greed, it was not because of fear. We signed it due to our commitment to protecting the environment.""

Nicholas Kusnetz reports for InsideClimate News June 26, 2017.

Source: InsideClimate News, 06/27/2017