2 Days Left in Obama's Presidency

Memory 9: President Obama leads an international coalition on environmental protection to combat climate change

President Obama’s goal was to find solutions on how to best protect our nation’s environment and implement measures to combat climate change, fell on deaf ears. In fact, under his leadership one of the most monumental steps was taken – the United States joined over 190 countries in making a commitment to globally protect our planet and fight against climate change. The 190-country participation with the Paris Agreement validates Obama’s decision to focus on environmental concerns.

In order for the agreement to go into effect, 55 countries representing 55 percent of global emissions had to formally join. The U.S. and China alone make up 40 percent of global emissions, and by September of 2016, both had officially joined the agreement. 

The Paris Agreement established a new international precedent helped to form bonds between some developed and non-developed nations. This agreement institutes a mutual agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, find innovative ways to conserve and invest in nature and finance projects, to name a few. This is a major step in the right direction.

Not to mention, President Obama took on other initiatives to combat climate change by decreasing our dependency on foreign oil, investing in domestic clean energy powered by wind and solar, developing clean fuels and more. For the first time in nearly two decades, the U.S. produced more oil domestically than it imported from foreign sources. Additionally, we are now the number-one natural gas producer in the world. (footnote https://www.whitehouse.gov/energy/securing-american-energy)