Washington co-founds climate alliance in wake of Trump action
Jun 2, 2017, 3:17 PM | Updated: 3:17 pm
Washington Governor Jay Inslee and President Donald Trump (AP)
(AP)
Despite President Donald Trump pulling out of the Paris Climate Agreement, Washington state, New York and California will continue to uphold the effort through a new climate alliance.
The governors of the three states have formed the United States Climate Alliance, which will hold the states accountable to the international agreement.
“I am proud to stand with other governors as we make sure that the inaction in D.C. is met by an equal force of action from the states,” Washington Governor Jay Inslee said Thursday. “Today’s announcement by the president leaves the full responsibility of climate action on states and cities throughout our nation. While the president’s actions are a shameful rebuke to the work needed to protect our planet for our children and grandchildren, states have been and will continue to step up.”
RELATED: Seattle mayor responds to Trump’s Paris agreement decision
On Thursday, President Trump pulled the United States out of the Paris Climate Agreement — a partnership of 195 countries aimed at cutting down on carbon emissions and addressing climate change. A vast majority of the world’s scientific community stands behind the fact that the Earth’s climate is warming due to human influence. But California Governor Jerry Brown noted that Trump has called climate change a hoax in the past. In fact, Trump has said that climate change was invented by the Chinese.
The concept of global warming was created by and for the Chinese in order to make U.S. manufacturing non-competitive.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 6, 2012
“I don’t believe fighting reality is a good strategy — not for America, not for anybody,” Brown said. “If the President is going to be AWOL in this profoundly important human endeavor, then California and other states will step up.”
United States Climate Alliance
The governors note that their three states account for at least 10 percent of the country’s greenhouse gas emissions, and 1/5 of the U.S. Gross Domestic Product. The climate alliance will work to reduce emissions by 26-28 percent of 2005 levels while reaffirming current environmental programs. They will also share information to implement new carbon reduction programs between the three states.
“The White House’s reckless decision to withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement has devastating repercussions not only for the United States, but for our planet,” New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said. “This administration is abdicating its leadership and taking a backseat to other countries in the global fight against climate change, New York State is committed to meeting the standards set forth in the Paris Accord regardless of Washington’s irresponsible actions. We will not ignore the science and reality of climate change …”
