Gary Cohn, the Director of National Economic Council, said this after a breakfast meeting with energy ministers from about a dozen countries on the sidelines of the annual General Assembly session of the United Nations.
"We are withdrawing from the Paris Agreement unless we can reengage on terms more favourable to the United States. This position was made very clear during the breakfast," the White House said in a statement after the meeting.
The conversation also focused on ways that the countries can work together to provide affordable, reliable energy to help reduce global poverty, the official said.
"Participants discussed the important role that technology and innovation will continue to play as our countries strive to achieve these important goals," he said.
More From This Section
President Trump in June announced his decision to withdraw the US from the Paris Agreement on climate change and renegotiate the deal that was agreed upon by over 190 countries during the previous Obama administration.
Arguing that countries like China and India are benefiting the most from the Paris Agreement, Trump had said that the agreement on climate change was unfair to the US, as it badly hit its businesses and jobs.
The landmark agreement, which entered into force last November, calls on countries to combat climate change and to accelerate and intensify the actions and investments needed for a sustainable low carbon future, and to adapt to the increasing impacts of climate change.