WASHINGTON – This week, U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), and 24 of their colleagues urged the administration to reconsider the decision to withdraw the United States from the Paris Climate Agreement. In a letter, Klobuchar and her colleagues highlighted the crisis of climate change and the damage that will be inflicted on Americans for future generations unless immediate action is taken. The Senators urged the administration against ceding U.S. leadership on this issue. The letter was sent as the 25th United Nations Climate Change conference takes place in Madrid this week.   

“As the second largest global emitter of greenhouse gases, and the largest historical emitter, it is imperative that the United States assume our rightful place as a global leader in the fight to combat climate change, yet with this action you are ceding American leadership to other nations at great political and economic costs.” the senators wrote.

“There is an international race to develop advanced energy technologies. Instead of capitalizing on this economic opportunity, this action to no longer participate in the Paris Climate Agreement places U.S. companies at a competitive disadvantage and effectively offshores American jobs to China and other countries, Moreover, the blow dealt to our national security by surrendering technological prowess to other countries is matched only by the damage caused by abdicating our international commitments made under the Paris Climate Agreement.”

In addition to Klobuchar and Shaheen, the letter was signed by Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chris Coons (D-DE), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Jack Reed (D-RI), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Tom Udall (D-NM), Angus King (I-ME), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Patty Murray (D-WA), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Bob Casey (D-PA), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Jacky Rosen (D-NV).

The full text of the letter can be found HERE and below:

December 9, 2019

Dear Mr. President:

We write to express our concern and opposition to your dangerous decision to begin the process of formally withdrawing the United States from the Paris Climate Agreement. Failing to address the worsening crisis of climate change will wreak damages on all Americans for centuries into the future. When you first signaled your intent to withdraw the United States from this comprehensive agreement, you indicated that you would "immediately work with Democrats to either negotiate our way back into Paris, under the terms that are fair to the United States and its workers, or to negotiate a new deal." We have yet to see any action to honor that commitment.

As the second largest global emitter of greenhouse gases, and the largest historical emitter, it is imperative that the United States assume our rightful place as a global leader in the fight to combat climate change, yet with this action you are ceding American leadership to other nations at great political and economic costs. There is an international race to develop advanced energy technologies. Instead of capitalizing on this economic opportunity, this action to no longer participate in the Paris Climate Agreement places U.S. companies at a competitive disadvantage and effectively offshores American jobs to China and other countries, Moreover, the blow dealt to our national security by surrendering technological prowess to other countries is matched only by the damage caused by abdicating our international commitments made under the Paris Climate Agreement.

The business community recognizes the missed opportunities resulting from your decision and understand the negative consequences associated with losing access to international clean energy markets. More than 2,200 American businesses and investors are committed to upholding the Paris Climate Agreement, and many American companies have urged you to remain committed to the Agreement such as Google, ConocoPhillips, National Grid, Levi Strauss & Co., Morgan Stanley and Unilever. 1 2 American citizens want you to take strong action on climate change, with roughly 67% of the country agreeing it is the responsibility of the federal government to address the climate crisis, and 64% disapproving of your climate change policies? Three out of four registered voters (77%) believe the United States should participate in the Paris Climate Agreement.

This sentiment is also echoed by state and local governments. Since May 3 1, 2017, more than 400 United States mayors have adopted the Paris Agreement goals for their cities and 24 United States governors have formed a bipartisan coalition to realize the Paris Agreement goals at the State level.    Furthermore, our national security experts frequently conclude that climate change is disrupting military readiness and exacerbating conflicts.6

As the 25th United Nations Climate Change conference is underway in Madrid, Spain this week, we urge you to consider the impact of this decision on the livelihood of Americans, the American economy and our national security as it will undoubtedly have long-lasting adverse effects on our way of life and America's position in the world.

Sincerely,

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