Sen. Gary Peters: Withdrawing From Paris Agreement Would Send Bad Message to World
“I think it’s important for those nations to understand that America stands behind its commitments.”
UPDATE (6/1/17 4:43 p.m.): President Trump has announced the U.S. will withdraw from the Paris climate agreement, but says America will begin negotiations to re-enter the agreement.
U.S. Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI) says withdrawing from the Paris climate agreement would send a bad message to the world.
Although President Trump has not made an official announcement, multiple news reports say he is considering an American withdrawal from the 195-nation agreement which aims to curb climate change.
Peters says a withdrawal would be a huge step backward.
“This basically unravels what has been an awful lot of work getting a global consensus together to deal with climate change,” says Peters, who is on Mackinac Island this week for the Detroit Regional Chamber’s annual Mackinac Policy Conference.
“We have entered into this agreement with nations around the world,” he continues. “I think it’s important for those nations to understand that America stands behind its commitments, it stands behind its treaties. It sends a very wrong signal from a foreign policy perspective. And it’s the wrong thing to do in terms of dealing with climate change, which is a significant issue that can only be addressed through international cooperation.”
Conservative critics of the Paris agreement say it will cost Americans jobs and increase costs on households and businesses.
