This week’s must read: Bob appears on MTV! (Okay, not really, but he was interviewed by MTV news, and for those of us raised by MTV, this is cool.)
This week in climate change, all eyes were on the fate of U.S. participation in the Paris climate agreement.
Four Republican members of the House Climate Solutions Caucus joined a letter to President Donald Trump, urging him to honor U.S. commitments made as part of the global pledge. “It is imperative that we maintain our seat at the table in global discussions of how to address the threats posed by climate change,” the letter, signed by Reps. Carlos Curbelo, Patrick Meehan, Ryan Costello, and Brian Fitzpatrick, reads. “The Paris Agreement gives us the chance to negotiate deals with other countries on greenhouse gas reductions and verify that everyone is keeping up with their pledges, without sacrificing our independence or self-interest.” A team of Trump advisors, including Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and senior advisor Jared Kushner, both whom support maintaining the international agreement, met at the White House to discuss the matter. Trump indicated a decision will be made in the next few weeks, while saying he wants the U.S. to be “treated fairly.”
Meanwhile, Wisconsin’s Rep. Mike Gallagher announced the joined the House Climate Solutions Caucus, bringing membership to 38. The caucus, which is kept evenly divided between Republicans and Democrats, serves as a working group dedicated to advancing proposals that will mitigate and reduce climate change while at the same time encouraging economic growth and job creation. Colorado Republican and caucus member Rep. Mike Coffman signed on as the 17th cosponsor of the so-called Republican climate change resolution, an effort led by New York’s Rep. Elise Stefanik.
The good news is, no climate jesters emerged this week.
Stay tuned as April showers bring May flowers.