On June 1, President Trump announced his decision to withdraw the United Stated from the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change’s Paris Agreement.

We can and must take meaningful and responsible action now

This heartbreaking decision will have ramifications for years to come, and signals a shift in how the U.S. engages in international diplomacy.

The decision to withdraw from the Paris Agreement places the US with just two other countries not in the deal: Syria, a war-torn nation, and Nicaragua, which didn’t join the agreement because it wasn’t ambitious enough.

Who’s speaking out?

His decision was widely criticized and denounced by environmental, justice, labor, and public health organizations, CEOs of Fortune 500 companies, world leaders and other heads of state, faith leaders, and Republicans and Democrats in Congress, among others.

While many have spoken out against the President’s decision, his announcement has also served to re-energize many individuals working on climate change, as well as local and state governments, universities, corporations, and other nations.

Immediately after the President made his decision, numerous state and city governments proclaimed their support for climate action, and the governors of California, New York and Washington State created the United States Climate Alliance to convene states that wish to uphold the Paris Agreement.

Now what?

In this uncertain time, it is clear that congressional action to reduce emissions and address climate change is more important than ever.

It’s important to note that the U.S. cannot immediately withdraw from the agreement. This is a process that will take four years to complete, starting from November 4, 2016, when the Paris Agreement entered into force. The US will not officially be out of the agreement until one day after the 2020 presidential election.

Climate change has been the dominant news story for several days now, which is remarkable given how little attention climate change was given during the presidential election. Many are hopeful that climate change will now be one of the top election issues.

In this uncertain time, it is clear that congressional action to reduce emissions and address climate change is more important than ever. FCNL’s pragmatic and persistent work to build bipartisan political will in Congress to address climate change has laid an important foundation for ensuring that the US continues to take action.

We will have several important chances to address climate change in the coming months:

Federal Budget

This summer, Congress will decide what our national budget looks like, and it’s highly unlikely that Congress will approve the version that the President proposed in late May. There is a real opportunity to generate bipartisan support for basic research, science, energy innovation, clean energy, climate programs, and more in our federal government.

Bipartisan Climate Legislation

Members in the bipartisan House Climate Solutions Caucus – which has now grown to 20 Republicans and 20 Democrats – have already begun introducing legislation to address climate change. In early May, six Republicans and six Democrats introduced H.R. 2326, the Climate Solutions Commission Act, which establishes a bipartisan commission to develop recommendations of economically viable policies to achieve science-based greenhouse gas emissions reductions goals. We expect more legislation to be introduced in the coming months.

Changing the Narrative

We are working on a longer term strategy to cultivate bipartisan political will to meaningfully reduce greenhouse gas emissions and address climate change. As more members of Congress reject the partisan narrative on climate change, and look for opportunities to take action, we get closer to a Congress that is prepared to pass comprehensive climate legislation.

Over the past several years, we have seen a remarkable shift in how Congress thinks and addresses climate change. While there is still a long ways to go, we are making very real progress, and it is largely due to the tireless work of constituent advocacy and relationship building. Despite the enormity of the decision made this week, I remain hopeful that both individuals and the global community will rise to the challenge of protecting vulnerable communities from the impacts of climate change.

The world we seek

As FCNL’s “The World We Seek” states, “facing profound global challenges and great opportunity, we speak from our faith for a new vision of how the world community can live together more peacefully and justly and with greater care for each other and our shared world.”

At FCNL, we are persistent. Our voice is powerful. We continue to seek that of God in every person. And we do not give up hope.

Emily Wirzba

Emily Wirzba

Former Legislative Manager, Sustainable Energy and Environment

Emily Wirzba led FCNL’s lobbying work to achieve bipartisan recognition of climate change and action in Congress. She served as co-chair of the Washington Interreligious Staff Community’s Energy and Ecology Working Group.

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