Yesterday, the Trump administration said it will focus on energy independence instead of climate change. Some Democratic states and the National League of Cities said they will continue to fight climate change despite Trump’s order.
National League of Cities president Matt Zone, councilmember, Cleveland, released the following statement:
“Cities and city leaders recognize how important it is to protect our environment, but we also recognize that this is not simply an environmental issue. Leading economists agree that climate change threatens our future prosperity. U.S. Military officials agree that it threatens global security. Engineers agree that it threatens our critical infrastructure. And doctors agree that it threatens our public health.
“Cities have already taken bold action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and prepare our communities for extreme weather events, and we stand ready to continue this work. Nonetheless, our efforts to promote resilient communities and enhance public health would only be complemented by a strong federal-local partnership. We believe today’s executive order undermines this partnership, imperils the health of our citizens and threatens our environment. Rolling back federal actions designed to protect the environment will have impacts to local economies, public health and public safety.”
“Local leaders are on the front lines of the fight against climate change every day, and we will continue to advocate for ambitious policies that address this global crisis, spur action at the local level and support our cities. Cities will continue to lead on fighting climate change, protecting public health and promoting a safer, cleaner planet—even if Washington will not.”
According to The Hill, a coalition of 17 Democratic attorneys general and city attorneys from six cities said they would consider legal action to block Trump’s order. The Hill reports New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman (D) said in a conference call Tuesday afternoon: “We regret the fact that the president is trying to bow back history. But it’s not going to happen. The markets are moving. The states are moving.”
The governors of Oregon and California along with the Democratic mayors of Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Oakland and Los Angeles issued a joint statement saying the executive order moves the nation in the wrong direction, and New York’s governor reaffirmed his commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.