May 31, 2017

Rep. Watson Coleman Statement on President Trump’s Decision to Pull out of the Paris Climate Agreement

Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman issued the following statement after it was reported that the Trump Administration will pull out of the landmark, 195-signatory Paris Climate Agreement:

“Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement is just the latest example of his Administration’s hostility towards facts and science. This reckless and short-sighted action, sadly, reinforces President Trump’s commitment to skirting our national responsibility for climate change.

Climate change is a global crisis that requires not only international cooperation, but also, the United States’ leadership as the world’s second largest contributor. By pulling out of the Paris Agreement, we are reneging on our international commitments and setting a terrible example on the world stage for those other nations who look to the United States for guidance. It is impossible for us to expect our partners to honor their commitments if the United States cannot live up to our own.

President Trump cannot continue to bury his head in the sand about the devastating consequences of climate change at the expense of our planet’s future. This decision is proof that even in his inadequacy as our nation’s leader he has surrounded himself with people who are just as ill-equipped or ill-advised to make decisions with international implications. Donald Trump’s international commitment to climate change should not center around building seawalls to protect his golf courses in Ireland—the American people deserve real leadership on the global stage that we can be proud of, not self-centered political grandstanding that leaves us weaker each day.”


###