Trump’s pullout from Paris climate agreement is biggest failure of leadership in American history

WASHINGTON, DC, JUNE 1, 2017 – On Thursday,  June 1, 2017, President Donald Trump announced that the U.S. would begin the process of withdrawing from the accord that 195 nations agreed to in Paris in 2015. In that agreement countries committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions to levels that will keep global temperatures from increasing more than 2 degrees centigrade, the threshold most scientists agree should not be crossed.

President Trump’s decision to withdraw from the Paris climate agreement is the “biggest failure of leadership in American history,” Citizens’ Climate Lobby Executive Director Mark Reynolds said today out of Coronado, California.

“At this pivotal moment for humanity, when the nations of the world must act together to avoid climate catastrophe, President Trump is saying the United States will no longer be part of that effort,” said Reynolds.

With the White House abdicating any responsibility to avoid climate disaster, it is imperative for Congress to step into the leadership vacuum and enact effective legislation to reduce carbon pollution. Citizens’ Climate Lobby, along with conservative voices, proposes a market-based solution – a steadily-rising fee on carbon emissions with revenue returned to households.

Less than two weeks after the President’s announcement, 1,000 constituents from across the United States will descend on Capitol Hill to meet with every congressional office and press the case for action on climate change.

Despite the Trump administration’s antipathy to address climate change, there are encouraging signs that Republicans and Democrats can come together in Congress to enact climate solutions. The bipartisan House Climate Solutions Caucus has more than doubled in size since the start of the year and now has 40 members with equal numbers from both sides of the aisle.

“As we’ve seen with the formation and growth Climate Solutions Caucus, there are many Republicans who want to solve the climate problem, and we hope more of them will join that endeavor,” said Reynolds.

“Canadians know pollution is not free. Everyone will soon know that the trend to clean energy is irreversible and that jobs await countries with the best climate and energy policies,” says Cathy Orlando, National Director of Citizens’ Climate Lobby Canada. “Canada is the U.S.’s No. 1 destination for exports in the world and an estimated 9 million jobs in 35 states depend on exports to Canada.  Under the World Trade Organization, Canada can level the playing field by enacting border taxes and this could actually push the USA to price carbon too.”

Since 2010, Citizens’ Climate Lobby Canada has worked in close collaboration with their counterparts in the USA.

“I really feel for our American colleagues today. This is a tremendous blow on so many levels. We are in this together. We support each other. We know pricing carbon pollution is an important solution. We will keep calm and carry on,” reflected Orlando.

###