We applaud President Joe Biden’s executive order rejoining the Paris Agreement, a legally binding international treaty on climate change. The United States is a major contributor of greenhouse gas emissions in the world and is second only to China; we must rise to the challenge of fixing this problem.
“The United States was once on track to be a global leader in addressing climate change. Rejoining the Paris Agreement signals to the rest of the world that the United States has a renewed commitment to acting on climate,” said J. Drake Hamilton, science policy director at Fresh Energy. “This is our chance to make up for lost time and demonstrate to the world that the United States is dedicated to taking meaningful, swift action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.”
By rejoining the Paris Agreement, the United States would have to make a more aggressive, nationally-determined contribution to U.S. greenhouse gas reduction goals. These goals would be bolstered by national and state-level policies that are in place as of November 2021.
“Minnesota’s energy and climate policies, including passing Governor Walz’s commitment to 100% carbon-free electricity into law, are critical to the United States meeting its long-term goals which are required in order to be accepted into the Paris Agreement,” said Hamilton.
“Fresh Energy is looking forward to working with the Walz administration and at the Minnesota Legislature this year to position Minnesota as a leader when it comes to setting ambitious carbon reduction goals and policies for our state,” said Justin Fay, lead director, Public Affairs at Fresh Energy.
Fresh Energy is dedicated to speeding Minnesota’s transition to a clean energy economy and engaging in clean energy and climate conversations and local and global scales. J. Drake Hamilton has represented Fresh Energy and Minnesota at past Global Climate Summits and will be attending COP26 in Glasglow in November 2021.
