I want to send my deepest thanks to all of you for coming to Paris to work on a climate agreement. I have heard good reports from my colleagues who just returned from Paris where they sent the message that President Obama’s Climate Action Plan has strong support.
I am so proud that the United States has joined the “high ambition coalition,” announced yesterday in Paris, which consists of about 100 countries pushing for a strong agreement in these talks.
This agreement in Paris can be an economic engine, driving innovation and job creation throughout the world. Just look at my home state of California – California’s leadership in reducing emissions has been a boon to our state and to our economy. California is on a path to meet or exceed our goals of reducing climate pollution to 1990 levels by 2020, and we are on the path to achieving our ultimate goal of reducing emissions 80% by 2050. We created 491,000 jobs over the first 18 months of our cap and trade program for carbon pollution. And in October of this year, California upped the ante on its goals for renewable energy, setting a new goal of getting 50% of our energy from renewable sources and doubling energy efficiency savings.
According to a recent New York Times poll, two-thirds of Americans support the United States being part of an international treaty to limit the impacts of global warming.
An ambitious agreement in Paris will not only reduce harmful emissions but will be a powerful economic driver for the U.S. and countries around the world, just as it has been in my home state. And, it will protect the health of our children and families for generations to come. This is our moment to take action.
Thank you so much for all you are doing to address dangerous climate change across the globe.
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