(Washington, DC) – Today, Mayor Muriel Bowser issued the following statement after the White House began the process to formally withdraw the United States from the Paris Climate Agreement.

“If the federal government refuses to confront the growing threat of climate change, then cities and states must continue stepping up to fill this leadership vacuum. In Washington, DC, we have said all along that we will honor the goals of the Paris Agreement. Already, we have positioned the District as the nation’s preeminent leader in green energy by doubling the amount of solar energy deployed, mandating 100% clean electricity by 2032, and committing DC to become carbon neutral by 2050. There is more work to do, and we will keep working with leaders across the nation and world to protect our environment for generations to come. Despite this disappointing action by the White House, we will do our part to build a stronger, more resilient, and more sustainable DC and planet.”