Kaine Introduces Resolution to Express Support for Paris Climate Agreement
President Trump signed an Executive Order to withdraw from the agreement
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) joined his colleagues in introducing a resolution to express support for the Paris Climate Accords, an international agreement on climate change. The resolution also highlights significant climate and clean energy actions taken by local and state governments, critical investments made through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act, and widespread support for the Paris Agreement. President Donald Trump signed an executive order to withdraw the United States from the agreement – meaning that the U.S. joins Iran, Yemen, and Libya as the only countries in the world not party to the Paris Accords.
“From sea level rise in Hampton Roads and on the Eastern Shore to hurricanes in Southwest Virginia, climate change is affecting us all and threatening the safety of our communities,” said Kaine. “I’m disappointed, but not surprised, by President Trump’s short-sighted withdrawal from the Paris Accords, and that’s why I’m joining my colleagues in introducing this resolution to express support for the goals of the climate agreement. I remain committed to building on our progress in recent years to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve resiliency, accelerate clean energy production, and keep Americans safe.”
On November 4, 2020, the first Trump Administration withdrew the U.S. from the Paris Agreement. The Biden Administration re-entered the U.S. into the agreement in January 2021. In December 2024, the Biden Administration released an updated Nationally Determined Contribution under the Paris Agreement, establishing an emission-reduction target of 61 to 66 percent below 2005 levels by 2035.
The resolution is led by U.S. Senator Edward J. Markey (D-MA) and is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Tina Smith (D-MN), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Peter Welch (D-VT), Jack Reed (D-RI), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Chris Coons (D-DE), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL).
The resolution is endorsed by Union of Concerned Scientists and the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC).
Full text of the resolution is available here.
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