Environment California Statement on President Trump Abandoning the Paris Climate Agreement

Media Contacts

Environment California

President Trump has got it exactly backwards: there’s no sound economy in our future without a healthy planet.  If national leadership chooses to ignore that reality, then governors, state legislators and mayors must step in to fill the leadership void to show the world that Americans will do our part to address the climate crisis.

— Michelle Kinman, Environment California

Los Angeles — Today, President Trump abandoned the United States’ commitment to reducing pollution under the Paris Climate Agreement. This action increases the risks we in the U.S. and people across the world will face from global warming – including dirtier air, threats to our health, increasingly extreme weather, and loss of coastal regions to flooding.

Under the previous president, the country began making progress in reducing pollution. Now President Trump’s actions threaten to take the country in the wrong direction.

Michelle Kinman, Clean Energy Advocate, made the following statement in response:

“When the nations of the world joined in the Paris accord, we all finally stood as one to begin to address the climate crisis. This embarrassing decision says to the world that the United States – the nation most responsible for global warming – feels no responsibility for cutting pollution, and pretends to prioritize the economy over the wellbeing of the world.

“President Trump has got it exactly backwards: there’s no sound economy in our future without a healthy planet.  If national leadership chooses to ignore that reality, then governors, state legislators and mayors must step in to fill the leadership void to show the world that Americans will do our part to address the climate crisis.

“Averting disaster would be easier with strong federal leadership, but it’s not too late to defend clean air and a livable climate. If President Trump won’t stick by the U.S. commitment to reduce pollution, then our states, cities and industries must do so.

“Just yesterday, the California State Senate voted in support of a historic bill authored by Senate President pro Tempore Kevin de León to commit California to achieving 100 percent renewable electricity by 2045. This is exactly the type of clean energy leadership we need more of in California and across the country to protect the health of our environment and our communities.

Hundreds of cities in the United States—including Los Angeles, Richmond, San Francisco, Santa Monica and Woodland—and around the world have pledged to accelerate carbon reductions to meet the goals of the historic Paris accord.

Dozens of cities are shifting entirely away from dirty fossil fuels to 100 percent clean, renewable energy – including San Diego, San Jose and San Francisco. Every city and every state in the country must follow.  And we need the business community to continue to lead on this issue as well.

“At the same time, U.S. Senators must act to protect vital pollution-cutting programs like clean car standards and clean air standards — from any attack.

“We must all work together to reduce and eliminate the pollution that is causing the world to warm.  Our families’ health and the future of the world ecosystem are at stake.”