Meehan blasts Trump move to exit climate deal

As President Donald Trump announced the United States would withdraw from the Paris accord climate agreement, U.S. Rep. Patrick Meehan, R-7, of Chadds Ford called the move “disappointing.”

“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. “The Paris Agreement isn’t perfect. But by abandoning it, America is relinquishing that seat at the table.”

Meehan explained what that action meant.

“It calls into question our commitment to protecting and preserving the environment,” he said. “And it forfeits our ability to drive countries like China and India to reduce their carbon footprint and compete on a level playing field. Ultimately, this disappointing decision diminishes America’s leadership role on the world stage.”

The Paris Climate Agreement was crafted in 2015. In it, almost 200 countries agreed to voluntarily reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. Trump has consistently denied climate change, despite overwhelming science to the contrary.

Meehan was one of 21 representatives urging the president to remain committed to the Paris Agreement and continue to move towards the United States’ goal of 26-28 percent less emissions by 2025.

“Remaining in the (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) will strengthen American leadership on environmental stewardship and help transform today’s low-carbon investments into trillions of dollars of clean energy prosperity,” Meehan wrote to Trump in a letter dated April 26. “Withdrawing would mean squandering a unique opportunity to promote American research, ingenuity and innovation.”

Meehan also joined 19 Republican co-sponsors in backing a resolution penned by U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-21, of New York, that would have the House of Representatives work on economically viable solutions to climate change.

Democratic U.S. Rep. Bob Brady, D-1, who also represents a slice of Delaware County, also blasted the move.

“The announcement today by President Trump is short-sighted and a giant step backwards as he has now linked arms with Syria and Nicaragua and ignored the more than 190 nations who are part of the Paris accord,” Brady said. “He has also ignored the views of the Pentagon who see climate change as a major national security issue.

“In defense of his action the president pulls out of our rapidly warming air false statistics that claim the withdrawal will help the American economy and the business sector. Today’s action was incredibly irresponsible, no matter how many times he states he is putting America first.”

State Sen. Daylin Leach, D-17, of King of Prussia, who is considering a run in the 7th Congressional District, was stronger in his opposition.

“President Trump, you have no idea what you’ve just done,” he said. “If you succeed in disrupting the world’s effort to fight climate change, people will one day look back on your decision as the moment you condemned humanity to unprecedented flooding, acidic oceans, toxic air, food shortages and mass extinction. Shame on you.”