Story highlights The G7 meetings are in Sicily

Trump is 'evolving' on the climate issue, the White House says

Taormina, Sicily (CNN) World leaders gathered here engaged in a heated argument over combating climate change, a major point of dispute between G7 heads of state and President Donald Trump, who is considering withdrawing from the landmark Paris climate accord.

Trump, who ran for president vowing to rip up the agreement, listened carefully to his new counterparts and is "evolving" on the issue, according to a top aide.

The rift is one of several emerging disagreements between Trump and other world leaders , who are gathering at a cliffside resort here for the first summit of the new US President's tenure. Differences over trade and Russia have also arisen in talks.

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German Chancellor Angela Merkel told reporters the climate debate was "controversial" and that the leaders of the other G7 nations -- France, Japan, Canada, the United Kingdom and Italy -- all urged Trump to remain a part of the 2015 agreement.

Aides to Trump said he was listening with an open mind to the other leaders' arguments about Paris, but had yet to decide whether to withdraw the US from the pact.

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