For Immediate Release
Contact Jeff Tittel, 609-558-9100
The New Jersey Sierra Club joined Rep. Frank Pallone (NJ-06) today to oppose President Trump Pulling Out of Paris Climate Agreement. The agreement within the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) deals with greenhouse gas emissions mitigation, adaptation and finance starting in the year 2020. 190 countries signed on originally. The Paris Agreement was considered a major environmental success after being signed by both the Obama Administration as well as the leadership in China. Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club released the following statement:
“We are here today to fight back against President Trump’s latest assault on our climate by taking the United States out of the Paris Agreement. Our President has clearly sided with Big Oil instead of protecting the people, our communities, and the environment. Future generations will suffer the consequences of this deliberate and irresponsible decision. We are standing up with Congressman Pallone against Trump’s recklessness and demand that the U.S. stay in the Paris Agreement. We must work together to resist the President’s dangerous anti-environmental agenda to protect our planet for future generations.”
“In one of the most irresponsible and dangerous moves as President, Trump has put the interests of the Koch Brothers and Big Oil in front of the people. By denying climate change he is denying our environment, our economic growth, and our future. New Jersey suffers from sea level rise and climate impacts more than most states. Another Sandy event is seventeen times more likely to happen again. Places like the Meadowlands, Hoboken, and the barrier islands are already going under water. Our cities are inundated with air pollution and toxic sites that only get worse with the addition of more greenhouse gasses and refusal to deal with climate change. All of Trump’s actions will have serious consequences because we see more flooding and devastation from severe storms and sea level rise. Since New Jersey will receive the brunt of these consequences more than most states, we must take the lead against Trump.”
“What this President is doing is actually selling out the future of this country. Our removal from the Paris Accords will not only hurt the environment, but the economy as well. Instead of benefiting from clean energy and clean jobs, Trump is turning his back on economic progress. While other countries benefit from the booming clean energy economy, Trump is sending our country backwards. This means China will be a leader in manufacturing solar panels and Germany will be making windmills, while our country is left in the wind. It will also increase dangerous pipelines crossing our water supplies and dirty infrastructure in our communities. While other countries have clean air, we will see more dirty air.
We cannot allow Trump to take hostage the health of our families and the environment to cater to corporate polluters and special interests.”
“By taking us out of the Paris accords, Trump is threatening our safety and security to benefit his short-term political goals. We’re already seeing health impacts of climate change. such as more ozone days, increased Lyme disease, intense flu seasons and even the zika virus. Even the Department of Defense has named it a threat to our country’s security. They consider it a special threat because climate disruption will cause wars over sea level rise and other climate change issues. In Syria, one of the major contributing effects of the civil war was a long-term drought brought on by climate change. Many of our critical bases such Portsmouth and Pearl Harbor could go underwater.”
“No matter what the fossil fool in the Whitehouse says we will still make progress on climate change.
Yesterday the two remaining coal power plants in New Jersey closed and people are increasingly demanding renewable energy. Even though Trump may try to stop us, we are still making progress. We will continue to stand up nationwide to demand it and resist Trump’s actions. We will see local governments take the lead on promoting environmental regulations. Cities will move towards 100% renewable energy. States will implement programs to fight climate change. New Jersey will have a new Governor soon and we can rejoin RGGI and commit to 100% clean energy. The entire country is gearing up for resistance against Trump and his agenda. We’re going to keep fighting to Make Our Planet Great Again.”