Last Thursday, President Trump announced he was pulling the United States out of the Paris Climate Agreement stating, "This agreement is less about the climate, and more about other countries gaining a financial advantage over the United States." He further goes on to call signing the accord a "self-inflicted major economic wound"

This does not surprise many however, as Trump has made it very clear how little he values the environment. This assault on the planet comes after the appointment of Scott Pruitt, a known climate change denier, as head of the Environmental Protection Agency, the advancement of the Keystone XL Pipeline, the 13 percent gash in the National Parks Service budget (the largest proposed cut since World War II) and the horrific 31 percent budget cut to EPA, including rollbacks on Obama era bills such as the Clean Air and Clean Water acts.

The Trump Administration seems to have a vendetta against the environment. During an interview with Fox News, Trump responds to concerns of who will protect the environment by stating, "We'll be fine with the environment. We can leave a little bit, but you can't destroy businesses."

Before we pulled out of the Paris Climate Agreement when all of these injustices were happening, we rose to the occasion and met ignorance with passion and education. We became alternative organizations, including the beloved Alt. National Parks Service, Alt. EPA, and Alt. Nasa. We met climate change deniers with marches for the planet and marches for science. We continue to fight tooth and nail against the installation of pipelines.

We can do this.

The Paris Climate Agreement is a crucial step towards a cleaner future. As of December 2015, 195 countries signed the agreement, pledging to convert to green energy and reduce global carbon emissions. Every five years, the signatories will meet to establish more ambitious goals in the coming years. This is an important milestone where countries have not only publicly acknowledged the existence of climate change, but they are working together to come up with solutions on how to reduce and reverse it.

Since the recent withdrawal, we have already seen some positive steps in an attempt to negate the message the country is sending. Mr. Michael Bloomberg, the former New York City mayor who now focuses on climate change with the U.N., pledged to donate up to 15 million dollars to fill in the funding gap left by the United States' departure. Mayors across the nation are honoring the Paris Climate Agreement by converting entire cities to green energy. These cities, including Boston, Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta and Philadelphia, are exchanging old street lights for LED lights, incorporating hybrid or electric public transportation, planting trees throughout their cities to minimize the Urban Heat Island Effect and making the cities more pedestrian/cyclist friendly. Even large energy corporations (Shell, Exxon Mobil and BP) are rallying behind the agreement.

What happens now? We keep fighting. Elect politicians who believe in combating climate change (Georgia is having a special congressional election in the 6th district June 20th). Support companies that have pledged to uphold the Paris Climate agreement, like Ben and Jerry's! Educate yourselves on what is happening in environmental politics, and tell your friends!

We can do this.