Former President Barack Obama (pictured) met with Mayor of Paris to discuss climate change
Former U.S. President Barack Obama is ending a five-day international trip in Paris, where he is lunching with French President Emmanuel Macron and scheduled to give a speech to business leaders.
Obama arrived at the presidential Elysee Palace at midday on Saturday. The area was placed under high security.
The French presidency said the private lunch was expected to include a presentation about the Obama Foundation. No journalists were allowed at the meal.
He also planned to meet with former French President Francois Hollande.
His evening speech organized by a club for leaders from the internet and communications industries is on the theme, ‘Fear Less, Innovate More.’
Obama was in China and India before he arrived in France.
Earlier Saturday, Obama discussed climate issues with Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo.
On Friday, the former President lashed out at the current administration, taking a thinly veiled dig at Donald Trump as he addressed a leadership summit in India.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, right, greets former U.S. President Barack Obama at Hyderabad House December 1, 2017 in New Delhi, India
Obama lashed out at President Trump on Friday for his decision earlier this year to withdraw America from the Paris climate accords
The 44th President, who helped pen the Paris Climate Agreement which he signed in 2015, said there has been ‘a pause in American leadership’ on the issue.
The remark was a jibe at President Trump who announced plans earlier this year to withdraw America from the deal.
If he follows through with his promise, which is not due to be ratified until 2020, it would make America the only country in the world outside of the pledge.
War-torn Syria became the last of 197 nations, including North Korea, to sign on to the deal earlier this month.
The agreement pledges all countries to capping rises in global temperatures and to cutting carbon emissions.
Obama said: ‘It is an agreement that – even though we have a little bit of a pause in American leadership – is giving our children a fighting chance.
‘And the good news is that in the United States, there are states, companies and universities and cities that are continuing to work to make sure that America lives up to the agreements that we made in the Paris accords.’
Trump has threatened several times to withdraw from the Paris accord saying it is crippling US business. He has called for the agreement to be renegotiated.
Obama arrived at the presidential Elysee Palace at midday on Saturday with the area under high security