In an open letter to the international community titled We Are Still In, 1,219 governors, mayors, businesses, investors and American colleges and universities declared they would “continue to support climate action to meet the Paris Agreement“.
The letter comes as a rebuttal to US President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw from the accord designed to prevent global warming. President Trump chose to revive the coal mining sector to preserve jobs instead of supporting climate action.
Analysts said abandoning Paris climate targets and lifting environmental regulations would slow the reduction in emissions. But they are optimistic about the backlash to Mr Trump’s decision. Although a few thousand jobs are created in coal mining, coal as an industry has been declining.
Surveys showed most Americans favour action to curb climate change. Mayors, such as Mr James Brainard (Mayor of Carmel), also support protecting the environment through introducing initiatives like switching street lights to LED.
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Source: The Straits Times, 10 June 2017