President Trump says US will negotiate to re-enter Paris Climate Accord

Withdrawal 'does not in any way alter the resolve' of water-heating industry

On June 1, President Donald Trump announced he would withdraw the U.S. from the Paris Climate Accord, an international agreement among nearly 200 parties that “brings all nations into a common cause to undertake ambitious efforts to combat climate change and adapt to its effects.”

“In order to fulfill my solemn duty to protect America and its citizens, the United States will withdraw from the Paris Climate Accord, but begin negotiations to re-enter either the Paris Accord or really entirely new transaction in terms that are fair to the United States, its businesses, its workers, its people, its taxpayers,” Trump said in the White House Rose Garden ceremony Thursday afternoon. “So we’re getting out, but we will start to negotiate and we will see if we can make a deal that’s fair, and if we can’t, that’s fine.”

In a statement responding to Trump’s announcement, the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) stressed that Trump’s decision to withdraw the U.S. from the Paris Climate Accord will not change the commitment of the heating, ventilation, air conditioning, refrigeration, and water heating industry to energy efficiency and environmental stewardship.

"The fact that the United States government has decided to seek alternative avenues other than the Paris Accord to address its energy and environmental objectives does not in any way alter the resolve of America's HVACR and water heating industry to reduce the environmental impact of the products and equipment we manufacture," AHRI President and CEO Stephen Yurek said. "Our industry has demonstrated its commitment to energy efficiency and environmental stewardship both domestically and abroad, which is evident in the global array of heating, cooling, water heating, and commercial refrigeration products that are more technologically advanced — while being more energy-efficient — than ever before.”