Renner Barsella, renner.barsella@sierraclub.org
CHICAGO, IL -- Today, it was widely reported that Donald Trump intends to withdraw the U.S. from the Paris Climate Agreement. According to the terms of the Agreement, no country can begin the withdrawal process until three years after the Agreement enters into force. The Agreement, which entered into force on November 4, 2016, has been formally joined by over 145 nations, and dozens of countries -- including India, China and the EU -- have reaffirmed their commitment.
In response, Sierra Club Illinois Director Jack Darin released the following statement:
"Donald Trump may be doing everything in his power to take America backward on clean energy and climate action, but that doesn't mean Illinois has to follow him. Climate change is a grave threat to Illinois' health, communities, and agriculture. Dozens of Illinois mayors and communities have already made commitments to reduce carbon emissions, and Illinois should do the same. A state plan to reduce carbon pollution would help Illinois benefit from the global clean energy economy, despite Trump's steps backward, and build on the good jobs in clean energy that are on the way for our workers and communities under the Future Energy Jobs Act."