All Eyes on Paris

With Trump considering withdrawal from the Paris climate accord this week, pressure has been mounting for the United States to stay in the agreement. During their first meeting, Pope Francis gave President Trump a copy of his 2015 encyclical that calls for action on climate change, and the Vatican's secretary of state urged Trump and his advisors to remain in the Paris agreement. G7 leaders also lobbied Trump to remain during their meeting in Sicily. Following meetings with European leaders, White House officials indicated Trump's views on climate change are "evolving," and he now has a better sense of the importance of the U.S. showing leadership by staying in the universal agreement. After the U.S. failed to join other G7 countries in reaffirming the Paris Agreement, however, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said, "the whole discussion about climate was very difficult, not to say unsatisfactory." The G7 leaders communique was seen as a key indicator of the current U.S. position on Paris. Following the G7 Summit, it was reported Trump has privately told people he plans on withdrawing from Paris. Those advocating withdrawal have argued the agreement is bad for the U.S. economy and bad for businesses.

Withdrawing from the landmark climate treaty would actually hurt the competitiveness of U.S. businesses (a number of companies and CEOs have signed public letters and taken full-page ads in newspapers that Trump reads), would seriously undermine U.S. international standing, with China and the EU looking to take the lead, and would be bad for the environment, making it nearly impossible to avoid the worst impacts of climate change.

Trump's Fat Budget Skimps Taxpayers

The Trump administration released their full budget proposal for Fiscal Year (FY) 2018. The "fat, taxpayer-first" budget fleshes out the "skinny" budget blueprint introduced in March, and would cut or eliminate climate-related programs and actions, particularly for those agencies working directly on such policies. The proposal would cut the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) budget by 31 percent — the largest cut for any cabinet-level agency — which would end 50 Agency programs and cut 1 in 5 Agency jobs. The budget reflects the Administration's desire to focus EPA on a few key areas and allow states to do more. Ironically, this budget would significantly cut grants awarded to states to help enforce clean air and water regulations.

It's worth noting that presidential budgets are aspirational and reflect White House priorities. It's up to Congress to develop a budget and appropriate funds. Both democrats and republicans have dismissed Trump's latest budget as being dead on arrival. This does not mean, however, that calling your representatives to express dissatisfaction with areas of the budget is not useful, as congressional republicans are still likely to draw on the President's proposal.

Scientists Refute Pruitt's Climate Data Claims

A group of prominent climate scientists have published a new study explicitly refuting EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt's assertion about climate data during his confirmation hearing. Looking at three sets of satellite data since 1979, the scientists concluded "satellite temperature measurements do not support [Pruitt's] claim of a 'leveling off of warming' over the past two decades." The scientists felt compelled to respond to Pruitt's comments, noting, "when incorrect science is elevated to the level of formal congressional testimony and makes its way into the official congressional record, climate scientists have some responsibility to test specific claims that were made, determine whether those claims are correct or not, and publish their results."

The Three Efficiency Rules

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has decided to move forward with three energy efficiency rules issued under the Obama administration. These rules would set energy conservation standards for refrigerators, pool pumps, and residential air conditioners and heat pumps.

Personnel News

Trump announced three nominations to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), an independent agency tasked with protecting the health and safety of nuclear energy. Annie Caputo is a senior advisor to the U.S. Senate Environment & Public Works committee, and previously served as an executive at Exelon, a utility with sizable nuclear operations. David Wright is a former South Carolina state utility regulator and nuclear engineer. Kristine Svinicki, the commission's current chairwoman, will be renominated.

Scott Angelle has been named Director of the Federal Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE), which oversees offshore oil and gas safety. Angelle was previously a member of the Louisiana Public Service Commission. The position does not require Senate confirmation.

What You Can Do

• Monumental comment period. The comment period is now open for monument designations made under the Antiquities Act of 1906. Comments are due before July 10, 2017.
• Call your Congressmen to oppose drastic cuts to EPA recommended by the President's budget proposal!