[P]resident Donald Trump’s announcement that the U.S. will withdraw from the Paris climate accord brought strong criticism from heads of state as well as Vermont politicians from both sides of the aisle and environmental leaders. Many begged Trump to reconsider, but he refused. The president has said he believes climate change is a “hoax” perpetrated by the Chinese.
Vermont Gov. Phil Scott, a Republican, vehemently opposed the president’s decision, as did members of Vermont’s congressional delegation, all three of whom have pressed for environmental reforms that would curb fossil fuel pollution that has caused an acceleration of the warming of the Earth, rising sea levels, habitat degradation, species die-offs and weather patterns that have led to droughts and floods.
Scott issued a letter to Trump last week, urging the president to continue the United States’ commitment to the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement, a voluntary carbon reduction program that does not go into effect until November 2020, after the next presidential election cycle. The governor said in a statement that the decision is “disappointing and concerning, particularly given the widespread and non-partisan support from business and political leaders for remaining in the Agreement.”
“Vermont has taken a leadership role in addressing climate change, and the president’s decision today only strengthens our commitment,” Scott said. “We have strong, regional multi-state partnerships through the Coalition of Northeast Governors (CONEG) and have made much progress in reducing the region’s carbon emissions, and we will maintain this work because it is the right and responsible thing to do.”
U.S. Senator and 2016 Democratic presidential primary candidate Bernie Sanders, called Trump’s pullout from the accord “an abdication of American leadership and an international disgrace.”
“At this moment, when climate change is already causing devastating harm around the world, we do not have the moral right to turn our backs on efforts to preserve this planet for future generations,” Sanders said in a statement.
A backlash from world leaders is anticipated, and further erosion of an international commitment to curbing carbon emissions is anticipated. Meanwhile the Earth’s average annual temperature continues to rise year over year. Glaciers are melting and low-lying oceanfront areas around the world — including highly populated cities like Miami — are more vulnerable to sea flooding than ever.
The objective of the Paris agreement is to prevent global average temperatures from exceeding 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) above preindustrial levels. The United States and China are the largest consumers of fossil fuels and contribute disproportionately more to carbon emissions than any other nations.
Trump and Republicans in Congress have vowed to dismantle the Obama administration’s domestic climate change initiatives, which would have reduced carbon emissions by 26 percent as part of the Paris deal.
It is unclear whether the 195 nations who signed the agreement in 2015 will continue to voluntarily take action to mitigate emissions through alternative energy production and energy conservation measures. Only two other nations have backed out of the agreement previously — Syria and Nicaragua, according to VPIRG.
Rep. Peter Welch, D-Vt., said in a statement that Trump had walked away from “the greatest challenge of our time.”
“His decision to withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement is a stunning rejection of science, international cooperation, and economic opportunity,” Welch said. “It imperils our national and global security, and will do irreversible harm to our planet. American leadership is essential to preserving our planet for future generations. This fight is not over. We will move forward without him.”
Paul Burns, the executive director of VPIRG, said state leaders must step up and do more than simply criticize Trump. It is imperative that the Scott administration and legislative leaders take action.
“Vermonters need to know where you stand, and want to see concrete action to protect our economy and health,” Burns said in a statement.
