Climate downbeat after US departure

Pruitt exit at G7 talks highlights gap between countries

BOLOGNA, Italy - The sudden exit of the head of the US delegation lowered expectations for the ongoing Group of Seven environmental ministerial talks, showing that differences between the United States and the group's other countries will be hard to resolve.

There was no formal word on the unscheduled departure of Scott Pruitt, chief of the US Environmental Protection Agency, a few hours after the two-day G7 talks began on Sunday.