Afternoon Tea: Climate burden placed on American workers, while China gets a pass

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The White House recently hosted a summit of world leaders to discuss climate change and emissions limits the United States would impose on itself under the Paris Climate Agreement. The invitees included leaders from nations like China and India. But, rather than making promises to the global community that will cost Americans jobs and raise our energy prices, the Biden administration should be telling the rest of the world to follow our lead.

The facts are, the U.S. is already a global leader in lowering emissions and is enjoying its best air quality in the last half century or longer, due in large part to increased use of natural gas.

Meanwhile, places like China, India and the European Union have all shown emissions increases in recent years. In fact, even though the U.S. is producing less air pollution, pollutants released in Asian countries drift over the Pacific Ocean and contribute to increased smog levels in the western United States.

The United States is already putting the work in on emissions reductions without grandstanding and global pacts. Meanwhile, countries like China only give the issue lip service. We should continue to lead on emissions reductions and hold other nations accountable for their actions—without hobbling the U.S. economy and punishing American workers.

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