In his speech to the Marcellus Shale Coalition this afternoon in Pittsburgh, President Donald Trump reiterated his intention to withdraw the United States from the Paris Agreement, which was adopted by nearly 200 countries in 2015 to limit global climate change. Under the provisions of the agreement, the earliest the administration can formally announce its intended withdrawal is November 4th of this year, with the withdrawal taking effect on November 4, 2020.
Below is a statement by Alden Meyer, director of strategy and policy at the Union of Concerned Scientists and a leading expert on the United Nation’s international climate negotiations process.
“President Trump’s decision to walk away from the Paris Agreement is irresponsible and shortsighted. All too many people are already experiencing the costly and harmful impacts of climate change in the form of rising seas, more hurricane activity, record-breaking temperatures, and large wildfires. The Paris Agreement is our best hope to mount an effective global response to the climate crisis, which is why it has resounding support from a large majority of Americans.
“President Trump’s anti-science stance that climate change is not a serious threat demanding meaningful action puts the profits of fossil fuel polluters above the health and well-being of current and future generations. It also impedes the ability of American companies and workers to compete with other countries like China and Germany in the rapidly expanding market for climate-friendly technologies.
“Fortunately, no other country is following President Trump out the door on Paris, and here at home, states, cities and businesses representing more than half of the U.S. GDP and population have committed to take action to meet the Paris Agreement’s goals. Unlike the president, these leaders understand that reducing emissions creates jobs and protects local communities, while it is inaction on climate that poses the real threat to prosperity.”