Trump Rejects Climate Pact – World Rejects His Action

Jun 2, 2017

On June 1st, President Trump announced his decision to withdraw the US from the Paris accord on Climate.  Trump said he was taking the action because the accord was a “bad deal” for America that would hurt its economy and cause job losses.  Reaction to his controversial action was powerful and immediate.   While many Congressional Republicans hailed and supported Trump’s announcement and its rationale, the overwhelming response inside the United States and around the world was one of anger and disappointment, accompanied by a defiant recommitment to the pact by cities, states and countries globally.   Here are excerpts and links to a few reactions:

Bill McKibben, well-known climate activist and 350.org founder:  “As the federal government reneges on its commitments, the rest of us will double down on ours. Already cities and states are committing to 100 percent renewable energy. Atlanta was the latest to take the step. We will make sure that every leader who hesitates and waffles on climate will be seen as another Donald Trump, and we will make sure that history will judge that name with the contempt it deserves.”  Read his full editorial in the NY Times HERE.

“Shortly after Donald Trump told the world that the US would withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement, American cities and states vowed they would abide by the international compact anyway. At least 61 mayors followed through on a previous pledge to ignore Trump’s decision and released a statement vowing to uphold the Paris accords. Meanwhile, the governors of California, New York and Washington announced they would form the ‘United States Climate Alliance’ to do the same as a multi-state coalition.  According to [their statement], the governors intend to recruit more states into the US Climate Alliance. Together, they aim to meet the same goals as the Paris agreement, including reducing emissions from 2005 levels and beating the targets set by the federal Clean Power Plan.”   The three founding states alone represent about 68 million people, a fifth of the US population — and produce a fifth of the US GDP.  Read the full article HERE.

France, Italy and Germany reaffirmed their strong commitment to the Paris accord, and said it was not open to renegotiation as Trump had suggested it might be in his withdrawal announcement.  The new French President Macron made the first in history address in English from the French Presidential palace, and spoke directly to Americans and President Trump, saying, among other things “Make our planet great again.”  You can view see his statement below.