U.S. election looms large over U.N. climate talks

MARRAKECH, Morocco -- U.N. climate talks open today against the backdrop of a U.S. election that could have a major effect on America's role in the global agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Given Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump's diverging views on climate change and the landmark emissions pact adopted in Paris last year, some countries' delegates have been unusually blunt about their preferred outcome.

Brazilian environment minister Sarney Filho said in a conference call Thursday he believes American society supports climate action regardless of who becomes the next president.

"However, on a personal note, I hope Trump doesn't win," he added.

Clinton backs the climate policies of President Barack Obama's government, including continued engagement in the Paris Agreement. Trump, meanwhile, has expressed doubts about global warming on social media and said in a speech this year he would "cancel" the climate deal if elected.

Those comments have raised concerns in other countries about whether the U.S. would ignore its commitments under the agreement -- or withdraw from it -- if Trump were elected.

Asked about Trump's remarks on the Paris deal, China's top climate negotiator Xie Zhenhua said "a wise leader" should conform to global development trends.

The Obama administration played a key role in making the Paris deal come together, particularly by forming a partnership with China that saw the world's top two polluters take the lead in global efforts to slash emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases.

Under the Paris deal, the Obama administration pledged to reduce U.S. greenhouse gas emissions by 26 percent to 28 percent below 2005 levels by 2025.

But U.S. Republicans are opposed to the deal, saying it will harm the U.S. economy. Trump has called for stripping regulations to allow unfettered production of fossil fuels -- a key source of carbon emissions -- and rescinding the Clean Power Plan, an Obama administration strategy to fight climate change.