Paris Climate Pact Triggers Partisan US Reactions_美文

Paris Climate Pact Triggers Partisan US Reactions

Americans are digesting a global climate accord that is dividing Washington along predictable partisan political lines.

Paris Climate Pact Triggers Partisan US Reactions1

"This agreement will mean less of the carbon pollution that threatens our planet, and more of the jobs and economic growth driven by low-carbon investment," said a jubilant President Barack Obama shortly after the deal was announced Saturday.

"What matters is that today we can be more confident this planet is going to be in better shape for the next generation. And that is what I care about," Obama added.

Congressional Democrats flooded Twitter to hail the accord. Not so Republicans, who announced their opposition even before the deal was struck.

"President Obama has promised to cut back American energy production dramatically," said Republican Senator John Barrasso last week. "The American people oppose sending their money to a United Nations climate slush fund."

'Unattainable,' critics say

In a statement, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell blasted the accord as "unattainable" and "based on a domestic energy plan that is likely illegal, that half the states have sued to halt, and that Congress has already voted to reject."

The accord is not a formal treaty and therefore requires no Senate ratification to go into effect. Whoever succeeds Obama in 2017 could halt or continue America's adherence to its provisions.