Washington, D.C. – As international negotiators continue discussions at the 25th Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Madrid, Oregon’s U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today introduced a resolution to express support for the Paris climate agreement.
The resolution notes the growing scientific urgency around the need for action to combat the climate crisis, and details the bold steps that states, municipalities and businesses are taking to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, create clean energy jobs and meet the goals of the Paris climate accord.
“Donald Trump’s decision to pull out of the Paris climate agreement was a clear abdication of America’s responsibility to act now to secure the health and safety of future generations. Congress shouldn’t follow Trump’s shortsighted and unscientific lead,” Wyden said. “This resolution signals there are still leaders in the U.S. who are serious about addressing the climate crisis. Continuing to bury our heads in the sand will not change the science.”
“The Trump administration’s withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement is a massive giveaway to corporations that don’t want to clean up their act—at the expense of the health and safety of the American people and the global community,” said Merkley. “That’s shameful and embarrassing. It’s Congress’ responsibility to do everything we can to remain leaders in combating climate chaos, and this resolution is critical to sending that message.”
In addition to Wyden and Merkley, the resolution is co-sponsored by U.S. Sens. Edward J. Markey, D-Mass., Tom Carper, D-Del., Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., Dick Durbin, D-Ill., Cory Booker, D-N.J., Tina Smith, D-Minn., Maggie Hassan, D-N.H., Bob Casey, D-Penn., and Jack Reed, D-R.I.
A copy of the resolution is available here.
A web version of this release is available here.
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