Washington May 31, 2017 – Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) today released the following statement in response to reports that President Trump is planning to withdraw the United States from the Paris climate agreement:
“I urge President Trump to reconsider abandoning the Paris climate agreement. In my strong view, a retreat from this agreement would be a reckless mistake that will have serious and dire consequences. As a Californian, I see the impact of climate change and don’t believe the threat can be overstated. We are rapidly losing our window of opportunity to control the rise of temperatures.
“All but two countries have ratified the agreement, pledging to work together to keep average temperature rise below 2 degrees Celsius. This landmark agreement wouldn’t have happened without American leadership. This effort will only succeed if we continue to honor our commitment.
“Climate change is just beginning to test our capacity to manage global crises. The world was not prepared for 5 million refugees from Syria. What will we do when many millions more are displaced by sea level rise, agricultural failures or disease pandemics?
“No nation can face these security threats alone. Climate change is a global problem that requires global engagement. Breaking our commitment to the Paris climate agreement will leave our country isolated and ill-prepared for the challenges we face. I urge the president to change course.”