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NFU opposes U.S. withdrawal from Paris Accord

The president of the National Farmers Union calls President Trump’s decision to pull the U.S. out of the Paris Climate Change Accord an enormous mistake.

Roger Johnson says the move reflects poorly on our nation.

“The greatest damage that was done here isn’t to the issue of climate, or to the environment, or long-standing research and development.  The greatest damage that was done here I think is to our standing in the world.”

USDA Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue says adhering to the agreement would cost the U.S. trillions of dollars and millions of jobs, however the accord is non-binding.

Johnson tells Brownfield no economic analysis exists that substantiates those claims, and contends U.S. participation in the Paris Agreement would likely lead to more jobs.

“Overwhelmingly, these studies will suggest that you create more jobs.  You (als0) create better-paying jobs.  You tie into some of the latest scientific information when you look more to the future than you do to the past.”

Johnson says the climate change movement will continue regardless of which countries are part of the Paris Accord, but the U.S. has abdicated its position as a world leader by withdrawing from the agreement.