Written by Michael Palomba
Back in 2017, President Trump made good his campaign promise to withdraw the U.S. from the Paris Climate Accord, and the formal withdrawal process started on Monday. However, California Senate President pro Tempore Toni Atkins doesn’t seem to understand that.
On Monday, the same day that the withdrawal process officially began, Atkins vowed that California will remain committed to the non-binding and ineffectual Paris Accord.
She issued the following statement:
“From raging wildfires to sea level rise along our California coastline, climate change is an undeniable reality, and it is extremely disheartening that the federal administration has decided to withdraw from the Paris climate agreement. Here in California – which will participate in the 2020 UN Climate Change Conference in Scotland – we believe in the tenets of that pact, and remain committed to our goals of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and increasing renewable energy sources. Climate change threatens everything from the air we breathe to our military assets – we can’t, and we won’t, back away from the kinds of improvements and policies that will keep our planet, and our communities, healthy.”
7. The badly flawed Paris Climate Agreement protects the polluters, hurts Americans, and cost a fortune. NOT ON MY WATCH!
8. I want crystal clean water and the cleanest and the purest air on the planet – we’ve now got that!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 4, 2019
The statement is more symbolic than anything else, as California has no say over international agreements.
California is no stranger to losing to the federal government regarding climate issues. Recently, several automakers sided with the Trump administration on revoking California’s ability to set its own fuel economy standards.
My proposal to the politically correct Automobile Companies would lower the average price of a car to consumers by more than $3000, while at the same time making the cars substantially safer. Engines would run smoother. Very little impact on the environment! Foolish executives!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 21, 2019
Atkins and other Democrats can cry and scream all they want, but their dire warnings will ultimately change nothing.
