March, 27 2019, 12:00am EDT
House Leaders Introduce Legislation Requiring US to Remain in Paris Climate Agreement
Statement by Alden Meyer, Director of Strategy and Policy, Union of Concerned Scientists
WASHINGTON
Today, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) along with other members of the House introduced H. RES 9 - the Climate Action Now Act. This bill urges the United States to honor its commitment to the Paris climate agreement, blocks the federal government from using funds to advance withdrawal from that agreement and requires the president to submit a plan to Congress within 120 days outlining how the U.S. will meet its Paris commitments.
Below is a statement by Alden Meyer, Director of Strategy and Policy at the Union of Concerned Scientists.
"President Trump's decision to withdraw the United States from the Paris climate agreement was reckless and deeply irresponsible, putting the interests of fossil fuel producers ahead of the health and well-being of current and future generations. The Paris agreement represents the world's nations coming together to respond to the greatest challenge humanity has ever faced, and it is unacceptable that President Trump wants the U.S. to sit on the sidelines.
"Climate change is happening now, as the recent spate of floods, wildfires, superstorms and other extreme events in the U.S. and around the world makes clear. The latest international and U.S. scientific reports are unequivocal: to keep these impacts from getting much worse, every fraction of a degree of warming we can avoid matters.
"As the world's largest economy and the second-largest emitter of greenhouse gases, the U.S. needs to stand with the global community by staying in the Paris climate agreement, and by putting in place the strong set of policies needed to meet our 2025 emissions reduction commitment under Paris and to put us on track to achieving the goal of net-zero emissions by mid-century . The Climate Action Now Act sends a powerful message to the rest of the world that when it comes to climate change and the Paris agreement, President Trump is out of step with the strong majority of Americans who want the U.S. to be a global leader, not a rogue nation."
The Union of Concerned Scientists is the leading science-based nonprofit working for a healthy environment and a safer world. UCS combines independent scientific research and citizen action to develop innovative, practical solutions and to secure responsible changes in government policy, corporate practices, and consumer choices.
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