Statement from RFF President Richard G. Newell
WASHINGTON—President Trump’s decision to withdraw from the Paris climate accord for economic reasons is extremely unfortunate and not based on evidence. The climate policies necessary to fulfill US commitments under the agreement would create very small costs relative to the size of the US economy and would be more than offset by the benefits from global pollution reduction. In short, this decision will not measurably increase jobs or GDP, but it will substantially damage US global leadership and slow progress on the transition to cleaner energy sources.
Resources for the Future (RFF) is an independent, nonprofit research institution in Washington, DC. Its mission is to improve environmental, energy, and natural resource decisions through impartial economic research and policy engagement. RFF is committed to being the most widely trusted source of research insights and policy solutions leading to a healthy environment and a thriving economy.
Unless otherwise stated, the views expressed here are those of the individual authors and may differ from those of other RFF experts, its officers, or its directors. RFF does not take positions on specific legislative proposals.
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