Most Americans—even in red states—want the U.S. to stay in the Paris climate treaty
Seven out of 10 registered voters think the United States should stay committed to the Paris Climate Agreement, says a survey by the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication. What’s more, “almost half of Trump’s voters say the U.S. should participate, compared with only 28 percent who say the U.S. should not,” says Yale.
“In the country as a whole, voters say the U.S. should participate in the Paris Climate Agreement by more than a 5-to-1 margin. Majorities of Democrats and Independents, and half of Republicans, say the U.S. should participate,” says Yale. “Only conservative Republicans are split, with marginally more saying the U.S. should participate than saying we should not.”
Republican Senator John McCain of Arizona, for example, told the press during a visit to Australia that he would like to see the United States sign the treaty or push for modifications to it that would make the document “palatable,” reports The Guardian.
“If we don’t address this issue, I am very much afraid about what the world is going to look like for our children and grandchildren,” said McCain.
President Trump has delayed making a decision on the treaty after promising to withdraw from it during his campaign. But the president tweeted over the weekend that he intends to make an announcement this week.
President Obama signed the agreement, which calls for reducing emissions of greenhouse gases, along with leaders from almost 200 countries. At present only Nicaragua and Syria, out of all the countries in the United Nations, have refused to participate.
Image courtesy of the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication