Contact:

Kristina Baum (EPW) – 202.224.6176

Donelle Harder (EPW) – 202.224.4721

Corporate Pledges Fall Short of Bailing out President’s Unrealistic Climate Commitments

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), chairman of the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, released the following statement today after the Obama administration launched their American Business Act on Climate plan:

“While companies’ efforts may be sincere in attempting to lower their respective corporate footprints, the Obama administration is not. In early July, the Environment and Public Works Committee held a hearing where a panel of experts determined that the president’s international climate pledge simply does not add up. According to analysis by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the president’s intended nationally determined contribution is about 33 percent short of reaching its stated goals.  Former Sierra Club Counsel David Bookbinder agreed and estimated an even greater gap. The American Business Act on Climate pledge, like most of the president’s climate agenda, looks good in a press release but does little to fill the gap of President Obama’s unrealistic Paris commitments. The EPW Committee will continue oversight of the president’s Climate Action plan and corresponding international efforts. Among the president’s multitude of pledges, he has also made one of ‘openness, transparency and accountability,’ and we intend to hold him to that promise.”

###