On the One-Year Anniversary of the Paris Climate Agreement, U.S. Mayors call on President-elect Trump to Keep Commitment

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Lindsey Mendelson

Environment America

Today, on the one-year anniversary of the Paris climate agreement, Environment America joined with mayors from Orlando, FL, Fayetteville, AR, and Philadelphia, PA to release a statement to President-elect Donald Trump. They urged the president-elect to keep America’s commitment to the historic accord and maintain the country’s role as a global climate leader. 

“One year ago today, nearly every nation on the planet came together and committed to prevent the worst impacts of climate change. Today, we are joining with city leaders who are not only on the frontlines in dealing with climate change impacts but also taking ambitious steps to cut carbon pollution, to call on President-elect Trump to make sure the U.S. keep leading this effort,” said Lindsey Mendelson, Environment America Fellow. 

President-elect Trump has said several times that he aims to back out of the Paris Agreement and will prioritize dirty energy development. His recent selection of climate-denier, pro-polluter picks to his administration does not bode well for U.S. climate and clean energy leadership. 

Urban areas hold the majority of the world’s population and emit 70% of global greenhouse gas pollution.  “Cities are on the frontlines of climate impacts but we’re already spearheading the solutions,” said Mayor Kenney of Philadelphia Pennsylvania.

Last year, 66 mayors joined Environment America in issuing a letter to President Obama calling for the strongest possible international agreement to curb greenhouse gas emissions. Since then, hundreds of cities in the United States and around the world have pledged to accelerate carbon reductions to meet the goals of the historic accord.

“Fayetteville is a progressive southern city focused on vitality and sustainability of our resources and we are therefore committed to reducing community-wide greenhouse gas emissions and lessening our dependence on fossil fuels,” said Mayor Lioneld Jordan of Fayetteville, Arkansas.

“Here in Orlando, we see addressing climate change as an opportunity to drive economic growth and job creation, enhance environmental stewardship and further a high quality of life for our residents and visitors,” said Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer. “That’s why I am committed to joining my fellow mayors across the country in reducing greenhouse gas emissions through smart investments in clean energy and sustainability efforts through our Green Works Orlando initiative.”  

As part of the Green Works Orlando initiative, Orlando is committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 90% from 2007 levels by 2040. 

“For the sake of our health, our environment and diplomacy, it is imperative that President-elect Trump keeps the United States’ end of the deal,” said Mendelson. “As city leaders show, meeting the requirements of the Paris Climate Agreement is not only achievable, but also paves the way for a cleaner, safer future for us all.”

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Environment America is the national federation of statewide, citizen-based advocacy organizations working for a cleaner, greener, healthier future.

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