President Trump pulls US out of Paris Climate Treaty: “We’re getting out”

In Washington, President Trump said that he would withdraw the US from the Paris Climate Treaty signed by President Obama last year. The move leaves the US as one of three countries that are opposing the Paris Agreement — the others are Syria and Nicaragua.

The President denounced the Climate Treaty for its “draconian terms” and impacts on the US economy and on jobs, highlighting the impact on natural gas, iron and coal and predicting a loss of 6.5 million US jobs. The President referred to global warming as a Chinese “hoax” on the campaign trail, and had pledged to withdraw from the Treaty if elected. However, the President had received heavy pressure from US business leaders, and international allies in recent months to stay.

The President, said, “in order to fulfill my solemn duty to protect the United States and it’s citizens, the US will withdraw from the Paris Climate Accord, but begin negotiations to re-enter on terms fair to the United States.” He said that the deal punishes the United States without placing meaningful restrictions on the world’s biggest polluters.

The Trump Administration’s America First Energy Plan states:

For too long, we’ve been held back by burdensome regulations on our energy industry. President Trump is committed to eliminating harmful and unnecessary policies such as the Climate Action Plan and the Waters of the U.S. rule. Lifting these restrictions will greatly help American workers, increasing wages by more than $30 billion over the next 7 years.

Sound energy policy begins with the recognition that we have vast untapped domestic energy reserves right here in America. The Trump Administration will embrace the shale oil and gas revolution to bring jobs and prosperity to millions of Americans. We must take advantage of the estimated $50 trillion in untapped shale, oil, and natural gas reserves, especially those on federal lands that the American people own. We will use the revenues from energy production to rebuild our roads, schools, bridges and public infrastructure. Less expensive energy will be a big boost to American agriculture, as well.