President Trump formally announced Thursday he was withdrawing the US from the Paris Accord, the global agreement on tackling climate change.
The decision won praise from conservatives who believe it will protect US industries, but has alarmed scientists, environmentalists, entrepreneurs, business executives, and other world leaders.
In announcing his highly anticipated decision, the president said he was "elected to represent the citizens of Pittsburgh, not Paris."
But the two mayors who actually represent Pittsburgh and Paris had some thoughts on this.
Also, just FYI, while Trump won Pennsylvania, he did not win Pittsburgh.
"President Trump clearly doesn’t understand the Paris treaty – and he certainly doesn’t understand my district," Rep. Mike Doyle, who represents Pittsburgh, said in a statement.
Hey @POTUS, saw your speech. I represent @CityPGH, and I think we need to act on #climatechange NOW. #ParisAgreement (1/5)
It should go without saying, but the Paris Accord did not, umm, cover Paris alone. It was just negotiated there.
It's a non-binding deal in which 195 countries (well, now 194) agreed to limit greenhouse gases through their own methods and use peer pressure to make sure they're meeting their goals.
"I was elected to represent the citizens of Pittsburgh, not Paris." I've been to Pittsburgh. It is, in fact, on the planet Earth.
So while Trump hopes his decision will protect US jobs in Pittsburgh and elsewhere, scientists fear it will damage the environment for everyone.
“i was elected to represent the citizens of Pittsburgh, not Paris.” DOES HE REALIZE THAT THEY’RE BOTH ON THE SAME FUCKING PLANET
"Paris and Pittsburgh share the same environment after all," said NASA astronaut Scott Kelly.
Withdrawing from the #ParisAgreement will be devastating to our planet. Paris and Pittsburgh share the same environ… https://t.co/rg5nMkQd6H
French President Emmanuel Macron was also highly critical of Trump's decision. "Climate change is one of the major issues of our time," he said. "It is already changing our daily lives but it is global. Everyone is impacted."
Statement on the US' withdrawal from the Paris climate agreements. #parisagreement https://t.co/T4XOjWZW0Q
"Wherever we live, whoever we are, we all share the same responsibility: make our planet great again," he said, echoing Trump's campaign slogan.
We all share the same responsibility: make our planet great again.