(The Center Square) – Virginia Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine is leading colleagues in introducing a resolution supporting the Paris Climate Accords following President Donald Trump’s executive order to withdraw from the pact.
The senators say the resolution “highlights significant climate and clean energy actions” undertaken by local and state governments through “critical investments” as part of the $891 billion Inflation Reduction Act of 2022.
The resolution comes on the heels of Trump’s flurry of executive actions, drawing criticism from Democrats. Kaine underscored that by withdrawing from the Paris agreement, the U.S. is among countries like Iran, Yemen and Libya “not party” to the accords.
The senator cited the threat of climate change that could negatively impact certain parts of Virginia while blasting the president.
“From sea level rise in Hampton Roads and on the Eastern Shore to hurricanes in southwest Virginia, climate change is affecting us all and threatening the safety of our communities,” said Kaine. “I’m disappointed, but not surprised, by President Trump’s short-sighted withdrawal from the Paris Accords.”
This is the second time Trump has withdrawn from the accords, the first in the final weeks of his first term. The Biden administration promptly reentered the agreement shortly after former President Joe Biden took office.
During the final weeks of the Biden administration, it released an updated Nationally Determined Contribution as part of the agreement, establishing an “emission-reduction target of 61 to 66 percent below 2005 levels by 2035.”
In his executive action, the president said withdrawing from the agreement is necessary for the U.S. to “grow its economy and maintain jobs while playing a leadership role in global efforts to protect the environment.”
Trump defended the nation’s record of implementing “sensible policies that do not encumber private-sector activity.” He added that outside the agreement, the U.S. has been able to grow its economy, increase energy production, and reduce air and water pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.
The president underscored that the agreements don’t benefit American taxpayers and are not in the best interest of Americans.
“Moreover, these agreements steer American taxpayer dollars to countries that do not require, or merit, financial assistance in the interests of the American people,” according to the text of Trump’s executive action. “In recent years, the United States has purported to join international agreements and initiatives that do not reflect our country’s values or our contributions to the pursuit of economic and environmental objectives.”
