title: Trump rejects future in pulling out of Paris climate pact: Obama
text: WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Former U.S. President Barack Obama on Thursday criticized his successor Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw from the landmark Paris climate agreement but voiced confidence that U.S. states and businesses will work harder to protect the planet. “Even in the absence of American leadership; even as this Administration joins a small handful of nations that reject the future; I’m confident that our states, cities, and businesses will step up and do even more to lead the way, and help protect for future generations the one planet we’ve got,” he said in a written statement issued as Trump was announcing the withdrawal. 