John -
In one of his first acts as president, Donald Trump signed an executive order to pull the United States out of the Paris Climate Agreement — again.
This move is short-sighted and immoral, but not at all surprising. We expected his policies would threaten our climate and marginalized communities first. And we have a plan to fight back.
The power of the states is key to advancing climate justice. While the Trump administration neglects our climate and communities, states can pass their own laws to reduce climate pollution and speed the transition to renewable energy — all while protecting environmental justice.
States hold more power than we realize in the fight for climate justice — and many have already started to act.
During Trump’s first term, states stepped up and created their own plans for addressing the climate crisis. They expanded wind and solar energy, passed Make Polluters Pay laws to force climate polluters to foot the bill for cleanup, and more. Now, we need to push them to go even bigger.
The U.S. is one of the world’s worst climate polluters and we owe it to the world to do our part. This includes supporting communities in the Global South, who have contributed the least to the climate crisis but are suffering its impacts the most.
While the current administration refuses to acknowledge the reality of climate change, we’re already feeling its devastating effects. Communities across the country and around the world have been devastated by wildfires, floods, and hurricanes supercharged by climate change.
Coordinated and ambitious local action is our best chance to counter the worst of Trump’s actions, John.
Together,
JL Andrepont for 350.org