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Mid-Michigan Reacts To Trump Pulling U.S. Out of Paris Climate Accord

WH.gov
President Donald J. Trump in the Rose Garden of The White House

A Michigan State University professor and a Democratic congressman from Michigan reacted to President Trump's withdrawl of the United States from the Paris climate change accord.  

President Donald Trump said the Paris accord is more about other nations gaining a "financial advantage" over the U.S. than it is about climate change. On Thursday, he announced America's withdrawal from the Paris climate change accord.

"I'm very, very disappointed," said Jeffrey Andresen, who teaches agricultural meteorology and applied climatology at Michigan State University.

"By the year 2030, the United States had pledged to reduce total greenhouse gas emissions by 21 percent of the target. If the United States is not in the agreement, it does have a significant impact."

Most scientists predict climate change will cause temperatures and sea levels to climb significantly. Andresen hoped U.S. communities will not be discouraged by President Trump's decision.

"Several other countries and even some states and localities have vowed to continue their own efforts. So its not as if this effort will disappear."

Minutes after the President's address in the Rose Garden, Michigan 5th Congressional District Rep. Dan Kildee (D) issued the following statement.:

“President Trump is failing to address one our country’s most pressing threats: climate change. Military and defense experts have concluded that climate change represents a major risk to our national security and have urged the President to develop a comprehensive strategy to address it. Instead, President Trump has dangerously decided to pull America out of the Paris Climate Agreement that seeks to address climate change, jeopardizing our domestic security and putting us at odds with our allies around the globe.

“Climate change is also a real threat to the Great Lakes. In addition to current threats like pollution and invasive species, climate change presents new stressors for the Great Lakes. They could forever change if we allow climate change to deplete Great Lakes water levels and increase water temperatures, changing not only habitats and ecosystems, but also jeopardizing our jobs and economy that relies on our water resources.”

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