Today, Congressman Ted Deutch (D-FL) and Congressman Carlos Curbelo (R-FL), Co-Chairs of the bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus, led a group of 21 members of the Caucus in a letter to President Donald Trump urging him to maintain our country’s commitment to the Paris Agreement under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
“It is imperative that we maintain our seat at the table in global discussions of how to address the threats posed by climate change,” the letter states. “The Paris Agreement gives us the chance to negotiate deals with other countries on greenhouse gas reductions and verify that everyone is keeping up with their pledges, without sacrificing our independence or self-interest.”
The letter later explains, “Remaining in the UNFCCC will strengthen American leadership on environmental stewardship and help transform today’s low-carbon investments into trillions of dollars of clean energy prosperity. Withdrawing would mean squandering a unique opportunity to promote American research, ingenuity, and innovation.”
The letter was signed by Reps. Deutch, Curbelo, Beyer (D-VA), Blumenauer (D-OR), Bonamici (D-OR), Boyle (D-PA), Carbajal (D-CA), Costello (R-PA), Crist (D-FL), Delaney (D-MD), Eshoo (D-CA), Fizpatrick (R-PA), Kuster (D-NH), Lipinski (D-IL), Lowenthal (D-CA), McNerney (D-CA), Meehan (R-PA), Moulton (D-MA), Peters (D-CA), Suozzi (D-NY), and Welch (D-VT).
Text of the letter can be found here and below:
Dear Mr. President,
As members of the Climate Solution Caucus, we respectfully urge that the United States maintain its commitment to the Paris Agreement under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
The world’s leading nations must work together to not only reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but also mitigate and prepare for the effects of climate change, which many of our communities are dealing with on a daily basis. The UNFCCC brought nearly 200 nations to the table to make commitments addressing the global threat of climate change. This monumental agreement signaled that the world’s largest carbon polluters, including China and India, are ready to transition to a low-carbon economy.
It is imperative that we maintain our seat at the table in global discussions of how to address the threats posed by climate change. The Paris Agreement gives us the chance to negotiate deals with other countries on greenhouse gas reductions and verify that everyone is keeping up with their pledges, without sacrificing our independence or self-interest.
At Paris, the United States pledged a 26 to 28 percent reduction in U.S. greenhouse gas emissions by 2025, and we are already well on the way. These goals are achievable, but they will require hard work, and along the way will create massive opportunities for American companies and workers. Reviewing and updating our contributions to the Paris Agreement are part of the process, but we know that our economic growth and dealing with this threat are not mutually exclusive.
Remaining in the UNFCCC will strengthen American leadership on environmental stewardship and help transform today’s low-carbon investments into trillions of dollars of clean energy prosperity. Withdrawing would mean squandering a unique opportunity to promote American research, ingenuity, and innovation.
It’s our hope that your Administration will take a responsible approach and seek effective market-based solutions to address this serious issue. Given the reductions we’ve already seen, our government and private sector are positioned to make the United States the leader in the fight against climate change. We stand ready to work with you to maintain America’s commitments under the UNFCCC and support well-paying American jobs, economic growth, and a cleaner and safer America for future generations.
