Luján Calls Withdrawal from Paris Accords Act of Cowardice

Statement

Congressman Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) today released the following statement after numerous press reports that the Trump administration is planning to withdraw the United States from the Paris climate agreement.

"President Trump's shortsighted and misguided decision to withdraw from the Paris Climate Accords today will go down as one of his most serious errors in judgement on almost every level -- environmentally, politically and morally.

How can the President pretend the world's environment is just fine when effects of climate change are at dangerous levels and appear to be accelerating?

How is it to our nation's political advantage to cede leadership on this pressing global issue to join the ranks of Syria and Nicaragua as the world's only non-participants in the Paris climate agreement? This action not only further alienates our allies, but it calls into question U.S. leadership and trustworthiness on other major issues as well.

And finally, how we can set a worthy example for our children if we saddle future generations with greater levels of carbon pollution, rising sea levels, droughts and more frequent violent storms?

There is a famous saying that "the greatest act of cowardice is to see what is right and to do nothing.' Abandoning the Paris Accords is not only a mistake; it truly is an act of cowardice."

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