On Thursday, Dubuque Mayor Roy D. Buol joined 85 others across the United States in committing to uphold the carbon-curbing goals expressed in the Paris Accord, describing the “cold reception from America’s cities” President Trump has received following his announcement that the US would withdraw from the international agreement to fight climate change signed by nearly 200 countries.
The statement was issued by the “Climate Mayors,” who represent cities that are members of the Mayors National Climate Action Agenda.
“As 86 Mayors representing 40 million Americans, we will adopt, honor, and uphold the commitments to the goals enshrined in the Paris Agreement,” the group said in a statement. “We will intensify efforts to meet each of our cities’ current climate goals, push for new action to meet the 1.5 degrees Celsius target, and work together to create a 21st century clean energy economy.”
So far, Buol is the only Iowa mayor to add his name to the group’s statement on the Paris Accord. Buol has been a longtime sustainability advocate, making a successful pitch to the Dubuque City Council after his election in 2005 to make the issue one of the city’s top priorities, contending that “cities that get out in front on sustainability will have competitive economic advantages in the future.”
That viewpoint diverges greatly from Iowa Congressman Rod Blum, who represents Dubuque in Congress and yesterday released a statement praising Trump’s decision, citing dubious statistics from the conservative Heritage Foundation to claim the accord would prove to be a job-killing commitment that would tank the US economy.
Ten US governors also denounced Trump’s decision on Thursday. Needless to say, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds was not among them.
Here is the group’s full statement about Trump’s decision to withdraw from the Paris Accord:
The President’s denial of global warming is getting a cold reception from America’s cities.
As 86 Mayors representing 40 million Americans, we will adopt, honor, and uphold the commitments to the goals enshrined in the Paris Agreement. We will intensify efforts to meet each of our cities’ current climate goals, push for new action to meet the 1.5 degrees Celsius target, and work together to create a 21st century clean energy economy.
We will continue to lead. We are increasing investments in renewable energy and energy efficiency. We will buy and create more demand for electric cars and trucks. We will increase our efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions, create a clean energy economy, and stand for environmental justice. And if the President wants to break the promises made to our allies enshrined in the historic Paris Agreement, we’ll build and strengthen relationships around the world to protect the planet from devastating climate risks.
The world cannot wait — and neither will we.
