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Statement from Mayor Walsh on Paris climate agreement

June 1, 2017

Mayor's Office

Published by:

Mayor's Office

Mayor Martin J. Walsh released the following statement regarding today's announcement from the White House that the U.S. will withdraw from the Paris climate agreement.

"Withdrawing the U.S. from the Paris climate agreement isn't just a setback, it's irresponsible. This damages our nation's reputation as an international leader and puts future generations at risk to the threat of climate change. Boston will not standby given what's at stake.

We are committed to addressing climate change head on and will accelerate Boston's efforts to become carbon neutral by 2050. Fighting climate change means fighting for all those affected by worsening air quality, extreme heat, eroding coastlines -- issues that will continue to impact residents for generations to come.

As Mayor, I will continue to work with U.S. Mayors and cities around the world to uphold the tenets of the Paris climate agreement and protect Boston against the very real impacts of climate change."

Mayor Walsh is a member of Climate Mayors (Mayors National Climate Action Agenda or MNCAA), a network of 87 U.S. mayors representing over 42 million Americans -- working together to strengthen local efforts for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and supporting efforts for binding federal and global-level policy making.  Climate Mayors recently released an open letter to President Trump to oppose his actions thus far against climate action. In January, 30 Climate Mayors issued an EV RFI to show automakers and manufacturers that 114,000 of their cities' cars and trucks could be electrified.

Mayor Walsh is also North American Vice Chair of the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group, an international network of the world's major cities addressing climate change.