Udall, Heinrich Introduce Bill Directing Trump Administration to Meet Standards Set by the Paris Climate Agreement

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich joined 43 of their colleagues in introducing legislation in the Senate to direct the Trump administration to meet the standards established by the historic Paris Climate Agreement and to mitigate the long-term damage caused by the Trump administration’s anti-environment actions. The International Climate Accountability Act would prevent the president from using funds to withdraw from the Paris Climate Accord. Instead, the bill directs the Trump administration to develop a strategic plan for the country to meet its commitment under the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement, which the United States joined with nearly 200 other nations. The bill also makes clear that the Paris Climate Agreement is critical to strengthening international cooperation to reduce global greenhouse emissions and hold high-emission nations accountable, and recognizes the important role the Agreement plays in protecting and advancing U.S. economic interests and foreign policy priorities around the globe. 

“The climate crisis is a global crisis and it requires forceful global action,” said Udall. “President’s Trump’s withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement was a complete abdication of moral and global leadership. With his decision, he turned his back on New Mexicans, who are right in the bull’s eye of climate change, and undermined our ability to successfully confront this crisis head on in concert with other nations. In the face of this administration’s tragic failure of leadership, it falls to Congress, states, businesses and communities to act. We must move forward with renewed purpose to quickly reduce emissions, protect our planet, and ensure a promising future for generations to come.”

“President Trump’s inward looking, isolationist vision for America represents a dangerous abdication of our nation’s leadership role,” said Heinrich. “Pulling out of the Paris Climate Agreement deeply damages the credibility of this nation on the international stage and put us on a path toward very real, costly climate disruptions in New Mexico and around the world. The time is now to act on climate change. I am proud to join my colleagues on the International Climate Accountability Act and reclaim America’s leadership as responsible stewards of this earth.”

Representative Kathy Castor (D-Fla.) introduced companion legislation, which passed the House of Representatives last month.  

The legislation has been endorsed by the Center for American Progress, BlueGreen Alliance, Earthjustice, Environment America, Environmental Defense Fund, League of Conservation Voters, National Wildlife Federation, Natural Resources Defense Council, Sierra Club, Union of Concerned Sciences and additional organizations listed here in a letter of support.

The full text of the legislation can be found here.