LETTER: Trump has an opportunity on green energy

As the Trump administration weighs its options on the United States' participation in the Paris climate agreement, it is important to remember that there is much at stake for both the environment and the economy.

The Paris agreement is an international agreement within the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), dealing with greenhouse-gas-emissions mitigation, adaptation, and finance starting in the year 2020. The Agreement aims to substantially reduce global greenhouse gas emissions in an effort to limit the global temperature increase in this century to 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, while pursuing means to limit the increase to 1.5 degrees.

The United States is the world's second-largest emitter of greenhouse gases, behind only China. If the United States withdraws from the Paris agreement, it would send a signal that the country is not serious about addressing climate change. This would damage the country's reputation and make it more difficult to cooperate with other countries on environmental issues. It would also make it more difficult for the United States to achieve its own climate goals.

In addition to the environmental benefits, the Paris agreement could also provide significant economic benefits for the United States.

Investing in renewable energy and energy efficiency can create jobs and boost economic growth. A study by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) found that the global renewable energy sector could employ up to 40 million people by 2050. The study also found that investing in renewable energy could save the world $6 trillion in energy costs by 2050.

The Trump administration has an opportunity to show leadership on climate change by remaining in the Paris agreement. Doing so would be good for the environment, the economy, and the country's reputation.