At a press conference shortly before the official start of the UN Conference on Climate Change Summit (COP22), Ban accepted questions about the Republican's triumph in the US presidential election.
During his campaign, Trump made several references to the topic of global warming, which he considers a "Chinese tale" and threatened to withdraw from the 2015 Paris Agreement - COP21, which represents a new light of hope for humanity. Ban Ki-moon also highlighted the fact that the pact had already been ratified by 109 countries and had entered into force, in record time, on November 4th, in the Moroccan city of Casablanca.
The United States is the second country in the world which emits the most carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere and about 15 percent of its emissions are related to fossil fuels and industry.
"I am optimistic about the efforts against climate change but I can only speak for myself," said the outgoing UN Secretary on the possible stance that Trump will take.
"I am convinced that, as president, he will listen to the arguments presented to him," he added.
During meetings in Casablanca, the United States' special envoy for the climate, Jonathan Pershing, stated that he believed that the pact against the global warming would survive the mandate of Trump.
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