Washington, DC— On Thursday, President Trump announced that his administration would renegotiate U.S. obligations under the Paris Agreement.
In a statement, USEA Executive Director, Barry Worthington, said:

“USEA supports a clean energy economy, and we work to advance clean energy technologies, such as carbon capture and sequestration, which can reduce carbon emissions and meet global climate goals.

“In our view, the Paris Agreement was not the right vehicle to reduce emissions and grow our economy mainly because it was a mandate on our industry that is not required.  Additionally, it unfairly excluded clean energy sources, such as natural gas and nuclear energy.

“Under the current terms of the Paris Agreement, the U.S. must reduce emissions 26 percent to 28 percent below 2005 levels by 2025. But U.S. industry is already reducing emissions and investing in clean energy technology without the mandates of the Paris Agreement.

“In fact, the U.S. is already two-thirds of the way to meeting the 2025 goals outlined in the Paris Agreement.

“In 2016, energy related CO2 emissions fell to 18 percent below the 2005 levels. In the electric power sector alone, CO2 emissions fell by 4.9 percent last year, and emissions in the first half of 2016 were their lowest since 1991.

“Former President Obama was planning to use the Clean Power Plan to force the U.S. to meet its mandates under the Paris Agreement, but the Energy Information Administration has said emissions from the power sector and industry are dropping notwithstanding the CPP. They are on a downward trajectory.

“The U.S. energy industry will continue to reduce emissions, Clean Power Plan or no Clean Power Plan, Paris Accord, or no Paris Accord. A renegotiated plan will be far superior to the poorly negotiated agreement.

“USEA applauds President Trump’s decision to renegotiate the terms of U.S. involvement under the global climate agreement so that it benefits Americans, our industry and our environment.

“Arbitrary targets for U.S. industry would harm growth and harm our GDP. Meanwhile, the world’s largest emitter, China, is not under any mandate to reduce emissions. Though it is working to reduce emissions within its own national policy, China is not under any mandate. That’s not fair for Americans or American industry, and it certainly undermines the global effort to reduce CO2.

“We are confident that President Trump took the right step today, putting U.S. interests first.”

If you would like to speak with Barry Worthington, please contact Dipka Bhambhani at [email protected] or (202) 321-3337.