Montco, Chesco Congressmen From Both Parties Decry President Trump's Decision To Leave Paris Agreement

President Trump's decision to pull out of the Paris Climate Agreement, announced on Thursday, was not popular among many Democrats or Republicans in Montgomery and Chester County, part of a growing backlash to the decision at the local level nationwide. The accords, signed in 2015 by President Obama, are a voluntary agreement between most nations of the world to collectively reduce carbon emissions.

Among those who expressed their disagreement with the President were Republican Congressman Pat Meehan (PA-7). Meehan argued that pulling out of the agreement ostracized the United States from the international community.

"If America is going to be a global leader, it needs to have a seat at the table when issues and agreements with global implications are discussed," Meehan said Thursday. "The Paris Agreement isn’t perfect. But by abandoning it, America is relinquishing that seat at the table. It calls into question our commitment to protecting and preserving the environment."

Trump said the deal did not put the United States first, and said it did not do enough to limit emissions from China and Inida.

"I cannot in good conscience support a deal that punishes the United States," Trump said. "I was elected to represent the citizens of Pittsburgh, not Paris."

Democratic Congressman Brendan Boyle (PA-13) called the accords a "landmark agreement" and said Trump's decision to pull out was purely political.

"This decision erodes our alliances and international standing, makes us less safe, and puts us at an economic disadvantage as other nations develop the clean energy economy of the future," Boyle said in a statement. "President Trump’s failure to capture the opportunities associated with leading the global effort against climate change demonstrates a lack of vision and a propensity to put politics above all else."

Republican Ryan Costello (PA-6) concurred with Boyle and Meehan.

"I am disappointed by the Administration’s decision to withdraw from the Paris Agreement. This decision is a setback to sustainable energy innovation across our country and forfeits an opportunity for the United States to lead on an issue of economic and environmental significance," Costello said. "While the Paris Agreement has its flaws, the solution should not be to pack up, walk away, and surrender our position of influence. The solution should be to work with our partners and improve this initiative while championing critical protections for American families and businesses. As a member of the Climate Solutions Caucus, I am committed to working with my colleagues to encourage greater American ingenuity, innovation, and leadership to reduce carbon emissions and protect our environment."

In addition to dissension in the ranks from his own party, President Trump also lost members of his special business advisory council due to his decision. SpaceX and Tesla found Elon Musk, along with Walt Disney CEO Bob Iger, both resigned their advisory positions after Thursday's announcement.

According to the Associated Press, leaders in the European Union and China have reaffirmed that their countries are committed to the deal whether or not the United States backs out.

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