Malloy: CT 'Has No Plans' of Slowing Climate Change Efforts

HARTFORD, CT — Connecticut was quick to join a group of states that say they will uphold the Paris Climate Agreement after President Donald Trump withdrew the country from the climate accord Thursday. Gov. Dannel Malloy announced Friday that the Nutmeg State will join California, Washington state and New York in forming the United States Climate Alliance. In a Rose Garden address, Trump confirmed multiple reports his intention to pull the United States out of the voluntary agreement meant to reduce global carbon emissions, as he had promised in the run-up to the 2016 election.

Trump further stated he would begin negotiations to re-enter the agreement or create a new deal that he says would be more fair to Americans. Not surprisingly Malloy disagreed, stated he hopes the United States Climate Alliance would send a message to the world that it accepts the science of climate change. (To receive free news alerts from your hometown in Connecticut click here.)

“Connecticut has been a national leader in combatting climate change and we have no plans of slowing down our efforts,” Malloy said in a prepared statement. “In the absence of leadership from the White House in addressing climate change, it is incumbent upon the states to take action in order to protect their residents. We remain committed to meeting the standards set forth in the Paris Climate Agreement because it is the right thing to do for not only the future of our state, but for the future of our planet. I am proud to stand with my fellow governors in support of efforts to reverse the harmful effects of global warming and to send a message to the rest of the world that we accept the science of climate change and we will not let the misguided beliefs of a few ruin our planet.”

Trump and Malloy have had a contentious relationship dating back to when the New York businessman emerged as a presidential candidate. During the Democratic National Convention, Malloy claimed that Trump bullies his opposition, expressing his criticism of the Trump/Pence ticket.

"You name them and Donald Trump has bullied them,” he said.

Following the announcement of Trump's immigration policies, Malloy recommended local schools and police don’t take action solely to enforce federal immigration law and that the federal government can’t mandate state and local authorities spend resources if the matter doesn’t involve state law or local ordinance.

Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) came out in strong opposition of the withdrawal from the agreement, claiming Trump risks "dooming the future of the planet."

“The withdrawal from Paris is part of a strategy, pushed by the neo-anarchists that surround the president, to shrink the United States back into its borders and end a century of U.S. global leadership," said Murphy in a prepared statement."This is a gift to the Chinese and the Russians and other ascendant nations who will eagerly fill this leadership void. And to make matters even worse, as the rest of the world pursues a course of renewable energy, all the millions of jobs that go with that transition will be created in countries that stay in the Paris Accord. The president's decision to leave Paris is both a planet killer and a job killer."

However, Trump said the deal both stifled American interests and environmental measures. He called the agreement both "non-binding" and "draconian." He blasted the deal for not doing enough to restrain emissions in China and India and because he believes it will hurt economic growth in the United States going forward.

"I cannot in good conscience support a deal that punishes the United States," he said. "I was elected to represent the citizens of Pittsburgh, not Paris."

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo directed One World Trade Center and the Kosciuszko Bridge to be lit green in honor the agreement. New York, California and Washington represents over one-fifth of the U.S. gross domestic product, according to an announcement from Cuomo's office.

“The President has already said climate change is a hoax, which is the exact opposite of virtually all scientific and worldwide opinion,” said California Governor Edmund Brown in a statement. “I don't believe fighting reality is a good strategy – not for America, not for anybody. If the President is going to be AWOL in this profoundly important human endeavor, then California and other states will step up.”

Image: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images News/Getty Images

Cody Fenwick and Alfred Branch contributed to this report.