Ban Ki-moon, Hollande call on U.S. to respect Paris climate deal

French President Francois Hollande onTuesday urged the United States to respect the "irreversible"Paris Agreement on climate change, and said France will lead adialogue on the topic with President-elect Donald Trump "on behalfof the 100 countries that have ratified" the deal.

Speaking to a United Nations climate conference in Morocco, Hollandepraised President Barack Obama for his role in getting the landmark deal adopted by more than 190 countries in the French capital lastyear.

"The United States, the most powerful economy in the world, thesecond-largest emitter of greenhouse gases, must respect thecommitments that were made," he said. "It's not simply their duty,it's in their interest."

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Scientists say oil and other fossil fuels are the biggestcontributors to man-made warming. Trump, however, has called globalwarming a "hoax" and pledged during his campaign to "cancel" theParis deal.

Earlier, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said he hopes Trumpwill shift his course on global warming and "understand theseriousness and urgency" of addressing the problem.

We have no right to gamble with the fate of future generations or imperil the survival of other species that share our planet.- U.N. Secretary-General BanKi-moon

"As president of the United States, I'm sure that he willunderstand this, he will listen and he will evaluate his campaign
remarks," Ban told reporters in Marrakech.

The Paris Agreement was signed by more than 190 countries and hasbeen formally approved by more than 100 of them, including theUnited States and even oil-rich Saudi Arabia.

Ban called international climate action "unstoppable" and saidthat no country, "however resourceful or powerful," is immune fromthe impacts of global warming.

"We have no right to gamble with the fate of future generations or imperil the survival of other species that share our planet,"Ban told the conference.

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Trump's election has created uncertainty about the U.S. role inthe Paris deal, which calls on all countries to reduce or curb theirgreenhouse gas emissions and encourages rich countries to help poorones deal with climate change.

King Mohammed VI of Morocco urged delegates at the conference totranslate their commitments into actions.

"What's at stake is the very existence of man," the king said."It is therefore our joint duty to work hand in hand to protecthumanity."