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Pasadena Continues Paris Climate Agreement Regardless of Trump Policy
News Jun 08, 2017
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Governor and Minister of Science and Technology Wan Gang. –Photo by Aaron Berkovich
By Sadie Gribbon
Pasadena stands behind the new climate coalition formed by Governor Brown, Washington’s Governor Inslee and New York’s Governor Cuomo to keep the promise America made to the rest of the world last until April in the Paris Climate Agreement.
Just hours after President Trump announced that he was pulling the U.S. from the Paris Climate Agreement, in which 195 nations pledged to reduce climate change, Governor Brown announced the formation of the United States Climate Alliance (USCA); 12 states and Puerto Rico have already joined.
Congressman Adam Schiff (D-CA 28th District), whose district includes Pasadena, has been a large proponent in the Gold Line and its extension projects and plans on continuing Pasadena and LA County’s pursuit for a more sustainable city in support of the USCA.
“I will continue to do what I can in Congress to push back against the misguided and dangerous policies of this Administration,” Schiff said, “and I look forward to working with both my colleagues in Congress and those in California to ensure that we protect our planet for future generations.”
America will join Syria and Nicaragua on the lonely list of countries that refused to sign the non-binding agreement. America’s resignation from the agreement, though, will take four years, meaning America won’t bench itself until 2020.
With the sixth largest economy in the world, California is not backing down. The USCA combined with the UNDER2 Coalition, which California is a part of, has the support of 170 jurisdictions, 33 countries and six continents adding up to 1.18 Billion people and 37 percent of the global economy.
“The President has already said climate change is a hoax, which is the exact opposite of virtually all scientific and worldwide opinion,” Governor Brown said. “I don’t believe fighting reality is a good strategy – not for America, not for anybody. If the President is going to be AWOL in this profoundly important human endeavor, then California and other states will step up.”
After President Trump announced that the U.S. would withdraw from the Paris Accord he called to begin negotiations to re-enter the Paris Accord on terms that were “fair” to the United States. The leaders of Germany, France and Italy released a joint statement within the hour saying that there would be no renegotiations.
As the second-largest contributor of carbon-emissions on the planet, America has little time to waste and the efforts already put forward by Congressman Schiff and LA Supervisors like Kathryn Barger continue that mission
“Clean energy is certainly a viable goal and something we are working hard for,” said District Five LA Supervisor, Kathryn Barger.
The fight for clean energy in Pasadena and LA County will not stop, regardless of President Trump’s decisions. Pasadena and California stand together in the fight to reduce climate change.
“I applaud the efforts of Governor Brown and the many other state and local leaders across the country who are developing and implementing policies to address the serious threats that climate change presents,” Congressman Schiff said.
Governor Brown traveled to China on June 4 to begin negotiations between China’s political leaders. The trip unites California and China in its efforts to “strengthen bilateral cooperation on climate action and clean energy.” Governor Brown has signed two agreements and formed a pact-alliance claiming the Jiangsu Province, home to 80 million people, as California’s sister-state in creating a more sustainable planet. Negotiations continue until June 8.
