Southeast Green compiled a list of comments from Southeast Mayors about their feelings on withdrawal of Paris Agreement.
Mayor Kasim Reed of Atlanta, Georgia
“The President has made a disappointing decision today to withdraw the United States from the Paris Climate Agreement, and by extension, global leadership. This decision isolates our country from international partners in shared, global efforts to curb climate change, and at its core is an assault on our future stability and prosperity.
Two years ago, I joined more than 100 mayors from around the world in Paris to demonstrate our support for the COP 21 negotiations. President Barack Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry demonstrated genuine leadership as they committed the United States to actionable, meaningful and achievable goals to combat climate change and reduce harmful pollution.
Along with my colleagues from around the country and the world, I remain committed to meeting the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement. The City of Atlanta will intensify our efforts to reduce CO2 emissions, work to cool the planet by two degrees, ramp up clean energy solutions and seek every opportunity to assert our leadership on this urgent issue.”
Mayor Jennifer Roberts of Charlotte, North Carolina
I am deeply disappointed in President Trump's decision to exit the , but Charlotte is no less determined to do our part to combat climate change. I have joined 68 mayors from across the country in committing to 'adopt, honor, and uphold the commitments to the goals enshrined in the Paris Agreement.'
Additionally, I am proud of the ways Charlotte is already doing its part to act on climate. Charlotte is already leading efforts to combat climate change, but there's still a lot we can do. We supported Envision Charlotte to reduce our carbon footprint by 19% uptown and save $26m in utilities costs. I've been proud to support greenways, bike lanes, and programs like Open Streets 704, which encourage pedestrian and biking lifestyles and a lower carbon footprint. Going forward, we have to support clean energy and our environment in every Charlotte neighborhood.
Forward-thinking mayors and cities like Charlotte must now take the lead to act on climate, and I will continue to be a champion for the environment. Climate change is an issue that affects us all, and we do not have time to wait for a new administration.
Mayor Steve Adler of Austin, Texas
Austin will not stop fighting climate change. Worldwide, cities will lead in achieving climate treaty goals because so much of what’s required happens at the local level. Regardless of what happens around us, we're still Austin, Texas.
Mayor Sylvester Turner of Houston, Texas
"Cities are front and center in the fight against climate change and we have to take action," Turner said in a statement. "We must not let the president's decision today slow our efforts. As the energy capital of the world and the nation's largest municipal purchaser of green power, Houston is leading by example and living proof that large, industrial cities can have a robust economy and also fight climate change."
Read a full list of Mayors how denounced
