NEW YORK CITY — The city will still adhere to the carbon reduction rules set out in the Paris agreement, even if the federal government pulls out of the plan, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Wednesday.
The mayor said NYC will join other cities across the country to "take matters into our own hands" in the event that President Donald Trump follows through on reported plans to remove the country from the 2015 deal to reduce greenhouse and carbon emissions.
"This is a dagger aimed straight at the heart of New York City," de Blasio said at an unrelated press conference in Red Hook, a community devastated by Hurricane Sandy in 2012.
According to reports, the president plans to withdraw from the international agreement, which could take up to three years. Trump tweeted he would make his formal announcement over the next few days.
I will be announcing my decision on the Paris Accord over the next few days. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 31, 2017
De Blasio said he will sign an executive order that maintains the city's commitment to the accord, and will partner with other cities across the country to continue to do so.
It climate change isn't addressed "one of the greatest coastal cities on the Earth will be increasingly threatened," de Blasio said, adding, "It’s very painful to reflect the fact that Donald Trump is from New York City. He should know better."
"He should know that what he is thinking of doing would hurt his hometown more than almost any place else because we’re an entirely costal city. So it makes no sense, it’s dangerous, and we in New York City are going to have to take matters into our own hands."
