New French prime minister makes veiled jibe at Trump in first speech

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New French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe made his first speech in Parliament, saying anybody who refused to sign the Paris climate agreement was not only selfish but "scared of the future".

This was seen as subtle rebuke to US President Donald Trump, who withdrew US from the agreement in June.

Philippe reaffirmed France's commitment in tackling climate change under the United Nations' framework, insisting dissidents of the deal were ignorant of the environmental challenges that lie ahead.

"Those who, through selfishness or a lack of conscience, turn their backs on the Paris climate change agreement, show more than just a simple misunderstanding of the world that is coming. It shows that at the heart of things, they are scared of the future," Philippe told the French National Assembly in Paris.

VCG Photo

Trump attracted widespread consternation from signatories in Europe and Asia, as well as individual US states after he withdrew the US from the Paris agreement.

"The ostrich is without doubt a nice animal, but putting your head in the sand has never prepared a person to face the future," Philippe continued, as he announced a number of measures to combat greenhouse gas emissions, including hiking diesel taxes in line with petrol.

However, the new prime minister did give an apparent nod to one of Trump's reform policies by announcing new measures to retain French businesses, in much the same way Trump pledged to revive the US corporate sector.

"Companies must want to set themselves up and develop on our soil rather than elsewhere," Philippe said.

He added that his government would cut corporation tax from 33.3% to 25% by 2022, while dramatically cutting unemployment.

(With input from CNBC and AFP)

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