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JOINT RESOLUTION MEMORIALIZING THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS TO SUPPORT THE PLEDGES MADE BY THE UNITED STATES IN THE PARIS AGREEMENT
WE, your Memorialists, the Members of the One Hundred and Twenty-ninth Legislature of the State of Maine now assembled in the First Regular Session, most respectfully present and petition the President of the United States and the United States Congress as follows:
WHEREAS, the year 2016 was the hottest year in the modern temperature record; and
WHEREAS,  there is increasing consensus among scientists and economists that there will be serious economic consequences if we fail to reduce global carbon emissions quickly; and
WHEREAS,  a changing climate will irreversibly damage the global economy; and
WHEREAS,  if left unaddressed, the consequences of a rising global temperature have the potential to adversely affect all Americans, hitting vulnerable populations hardest, hurting working families and harming productivity in middle class job sectors such as construction, agriculture and tourism, among others; and
WHEREAS,  there has been an increase in extreme weather events across the United States that have affected supply chains, consumer behaviors and local economies; and
WHEREAS,  the Paris Agreement provides a pathway forward to limit temperature rise to well below 2 degrees Celsius; and
WHEREAS,  the Paris Agreement sends a powerful signal to the world that climate change is an immediate problem facing the planet; and
WHEREAS,  if the United States withdraws from the Paris Agreement, the United States will face an international diplomatic backlash and will cede leadership on climate change and renewable energy issues to China; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED: That We, your Memorialists, on behalf of the people we represent, take this opportunity to respectfully request that the President of the United States and the United States Congress work with our allies that signed the Paris Agreement; and be it further
RESOLVED: That We respectfully urge and request that the President of the United States not issue an Executive Order withdrawing the United States from the Paris Agreement; and be it further
RESOLVED: That suitable copies of this resolution, duly authenticated by the Secretary of State, be transmitted to the Honorable Donald John Trump, President of the United States, to the President of the United States Senate, to the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives and to each Member of the Maine Congressional Delegation.