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California Stands Up To President Trump's Decision To Back Out Of Paris Agreement
California Gov. Jerry Brown talks to reporters at the Alameda County Registrar of Voters Feb. 28 in Oakland (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
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California has stood up to President Trump since the beginning of his administration, laying the groundwork to become a sanctuary state and a single-payer healthcare system, and now the fight continues around his climate policies. The state joins Washington and New York in the formation of the U.S. Climate Alliance, aimed at upholding the Paris Climate Accord despite President Trump's announcement of the United States' withdrawal from the pact, according to the N.Y. Times. The Alliance brings together U.S. politicians and companies to negotiate a plan with the United Nations to uphold the Paris Climate Accord.
California's fight goes even further: Governor Jerry Brown leaves for China today to discuss continued ways of curbing global warming, and legislators have worked to guarantee that emission standards remain in tact despite Trump's announcement in March to reverse the Obama administration's mileage and emission requirements.
In a conversation with the L.A. Times, Governor Brown responded to Trump's announcement that the U.S. would be withdrawing from the pact, saying, "It cannot stand, it's not right and California will do everything it can to not only stay the course, but to build more support — in other states, in other provinces, in other countries." Other local and state politicians have echoed these statements. Senator Dianne Feinstein responded in a statement by saying "President Trump has weakened our nation by withdrawing from the Paris climate agreement. His decision to abandon our commitment and isolate our country will have consequences that reverberate for generations," adding that "states like California are ready to show our resolve and will continue to work with our international partners to combat climate change." Congressman Ted Lieu responded as well, saying, "abandoning the Agreement would also result in the United States ceding its leadership in addressing carbon and methane pollution at a time when we cannot afford inaction." He also argued against President Trump's rationale for backing out of the agreement—that it's costing jobs—by pointing out how clean energy replaced the need for coal.
Paris Climate Accord did not kill US coal. Cheaper energy did. We need to honor coal workers & help them transition, not lie to them.
— Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) June 1, 2017
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Mayor Eric Garcetti echoed Sen. Feinstein, saying in a statement, "With the President pulling out of the Paris Climate Agreement, L.A. will lead by committing to the goals of the accord — and will work closely with cities across America and the world to do the same."
Even Arnold Schwarzenegger, our Republican former governor, criticized President Trump. He responded to the announcement by referencing The Terminator: “one man cannot destroy our progress, one man can’t stop our clean energy revolution, one man can’t go back in time. Only I can do that,” Schwarzenegger said in a video on ATTN:
The backlash has extended to California's businesses as well; Elon Musk and Bob Iger were among the notable names to have departed Trump's advisory teams in reaction to the president's decision.
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