Promises made. Promises kept. President Donald J. Trump's White House officially notified the United Nations that the United States will officially withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement. Monday marked the first day the U.S. could officially declare whether or not it was staying in the mulit-nation agreement to combat climate change. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo sent the U.N. a formal letter on Monday afternoon.
"In international climate discussions, we will continue to offer a realistic and pragmatic model – backed by a record of real world results – showing innovation and open markets lead to greater prosperity, fewer emissions, and more secure sources of energy," Pompeo said in the withdrawal letter. "We will continue to work with our global partners to enhance resilience to the impacts of climate change and prepare for and respond to natural disasters."
The withdrawal will officially take place after a one-year waiting period, per agreement rules. State Department spokesperson Morgan Ortagus also tweeted that, "Today under @SecPompeo’s leadership, the State Department begins the formal process of withdrawing the U.S. from the Paris Agreement. The U.S. will continue to assist our partners to reduce emissions, protect natural resources, increase resilience & respond to natural disasters."
Today under @SecPompeo’s leadership, the State Department begins the formal process of withdrawing the U.S. from the Paris Agreement. The U.S. will continue to assist our partners to reduce emissions, protect natural resources, increase resilience & respond to natural disasters.
— Morgan Ortagus (@statedeptspox) November 4, 2019
In 2017, President Trump announced America's decision to withdraw from the 2015 agreement due to the economic restraints it placed on American workers and the economy.
"As President, I can put no other consideration before the wellbeing of American citizens. The Paris Climate Accord is simply the latest example of Washington entering into an agreement that disadvantages the United States to the exclusive benefit of other countries, leaving American workers — who I love — and taxpayers to absorb the cost in terms of lost jobs, lower wages, shuttered factories, and vastly diminished economic production," he said at the time.
On Monday, Sec. Pompeo reiterated this message saying the agreement placed undue economic burden on America. The United States has led the world in reducing carbon emissions, even after the informal decision to drop out of the agreement.