For Immediate Release
The Signing Of The Paris Agreement: “A Turning Point For Humanity.”
WASHINGTON - Today, more than 150 nations are gathering at the UN in New York City for the historic signing of the Paris Agreement, which was formally adopted by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change at the closing of the COP21 climate negotiations in December.
In response, Sierra Club Executive Director Michael Brune released the following statement:
"Today’s signing of the Paris Agreement is truly one for the history books, marking a turning point for humanity and a permanent shift toward a 100 percent clean energy economy. Following on the historic momentum from Paris, we’ve seen remarkable climate action both at home and around the world.The victories are numerous, from both Oregon and New York State committing to completely eliminate coal to the wave of announcements from cities and businesses pledging to go 100 percent renewable to India committing to 100 gigawatts of solar power by 2022.
“In Paris, the world gave fossil fuels their expiration date, and today’s signing has set that process in motion.”
The Sierra Club is the oldest and largest grassroots environmental organization in the United States. It was founded on May 28, 1892 in San Francisco, California by the well-known conservationist and preservationist John Muir, who became its first president. The Sierra Club has hundreds of thousands of members in chapters located throughout the US, and is affiliated with Sierra Club Canada.