US Plans to withdraw from the Paris Agreement
ELCA Advocacy is deeply disappointed with President Trump’s
decision to begin the process of withdrawing from the Paris Agreement. The effects of climate change are
being felt globally, and vulnerable and the marginalized populations are most impacted.
These are communities who have contributed the least to the greenhouse gas
emissions and are ill equipped to mitigate or adapt to the impacts of climate
change. Our goal must be to develop and forge ahead with
policies that safeguard against these impacts. We are called by God to protect
all of creation. The Paris Agreement is a key tool in doing this on a
global scale. It represents an unprecedented cooperation among world leaders to
address one of the direst issues facing humanity and the rest of creation
today. The viability of our planet is being threatened in extraordinary ways. Without
action, we are relinquishing our responsibilities for the prosperity of future
generations.
Overwhelming
scientific evidence shows that human activity is contributing
to climate change by emitting
greenhouse gases that change the earth’s atmosphere. This is causing the earth
to warm, which results in climate changes never experienced before.
The
stresses of climate change are real, impacting practically every fiber of our
existence, including health, food security, water, hunger, agriculture,
migration and national security. The Paris
Agreement is landmark in international climate policy, and helps to set the
agenda for action now and in the years to come.
As
a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, United States has an
obligation to the world to address climate change. But the United States is also
in a unique position to maintain its global leadership on international climate
action. Inaction will allow the devastating effects of climate disruption to
continue.
The requirement for the United States to maintain its global
leadership presence could not be more urgent. Withdrawing from the Paris
Agreement is contrary to our nation’s principled character. We urge President Trump to reverse his
decision to withdraw from the Paris Agreement.
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