| In a plea via video message from the Founding Chair of R20 Regions for Climate Action, Arnold Schwarzenegger reacted to president Donald Trumps decision to pull the United States of America out of the Paris Climate Agreement.
One man cannot destroy our progress. One man can’t stop our clean energy revolution. And one man can’t go back in time. Only I can do that. President Trump says he’s pulling out of the Paris climate agreement. My message to you, Mr. President, is that, as a public servant and especially as a president, your first and most important responsability is to protect the people. 200,000 people die every year in the U.S. from air pollution, and half of our rivers and streams are too polluted for our health. We can’t sit back and just do nothing while people are getting sick and dying, especially when you know there is another way.
The day after Donald Trump’s announcement of the withdrawal of the United States from the Paris agreement, the former Mayor of New York, Michael Bloomberg was received at the Elysee Palace by President Emmanuel Macron and Mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo. Mr. Bloomberg declared:
Today I want the world to know the US will meet our Paris commitment, and through a partnership among cities, states, and businesses, we will seek to remain part of the Paris agreement process.
President of the C40 – Cities Climate Leadership Group – the Mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo said:
By withdrawing the United States from the Paris accord, President Trump is today making a mistake with fatal consequences. As President of the C40, which brings together The 91 most important cities in the world mobilized for Climate, and as mayor of Paris, I solemnly call on the government of the United States to reverse this dramatic decision. If we want to avoid the most devastating effects of the climate crisis, the next four years are crucial. More than ever, we need American leadership in the face of this major challenge.
French President Emmanuel Macron also lamented the decision of Donald Trump, speaking in English to the Americans:
Do not be deceived. About the climate, there is no plan B because there is no planet B.
He concluded with a sentence that had become viral, diverting the US president’s campaign slogan:
Make our planet great again.
Now more than ever it is time to strengthen alliances amongst sub-national governments, national governments, NGOs, academics, technology providers, public and private financial partners.
This is exactly what R20 is contributing for a better future as Arnold Schwarzenegger our Founding Chair is telling us through this video he shot after Trump’s declaration June 1st 2017.
View the Video Message from Founding Chair of R20 Regions for Climate Action, Arnold Schwarzenegger here.
