Statement: Trump administration officially pulls the U.S. out of the international Paris Agreement setting back climate progress

America must lead, but this decision doesn’t do that

Environment California

WASHINGTON — The Trump administration officially pulled the United States out of the international Paris Agreement on climate change Wednesday.  Although announced previously, the withdrawal could only be finalized as soon as the day after the presidential election.

Dan Jacobson, Director, Environment California issued the following statement: 

“This is a heartbreaking act, because Californians and people across the country and the world need the United States to step up and lead on solving the climate crisis. We have such a powerful role to play — with our American ingenuity and passion for our majestic lands and wildlife. Staying in the international Paris Agreement would be a powerful signal of our resolve to cut planet-warming emissions as quickly as possible — for the sake of every living being on the planet. While rejoining will likely depend on the ultimate outcome of the presidential election, we continue to hold out hope that we will change course at the federal level on this vital international commitment.

“Thankfully California is working hard to stave off the worst impacts of climate change. We are on pace to generate 100 percent of our energy from clean energy sources by 2045 (maybe sooner), we are looking to electrify our transportation, we have plans to reduce emissions from buildings and the Governor is looking for ways to reduce oil drilling. We need to do more, but this is a great start.

“We must get climate solutions on the ground, at the scale and pace necessary to keep the planet from warming more than 1.5 degrees. And to get there, we must have our federal leaders step up and do their part. It’s time for Congress to step up and boldly act on transformational, economy-wide climate policies that will support a stable climate for all Americans and for the world.”

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