Presidential candidate and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton voiced support for the Paris climate agreement during a town hall event Thursday in Kingstree, S.C. saying that she would devote “enormous” amounts of time and energy to ensuring the deal’s enforcement. “We need to really put our efforts into enforcing and carrying out the Paris climate deal because that is the best chance to bring the world around before it’s too late,” the Democratic frontrunner said.
The nearly 200-nation deal on countering climate change was adopted in December and has been hit with criticism from the right. Under the agreement nations’ contributions are voluntary and determined at the national level. Because the contributions are voluntary and thus not legally binding, the administration could agree to the deal without needing Senate ratification.
However, because the deal is not legally binding, it will largely fall on the next president to enforce it. The current administration argues that, even if a Republican is elected, it would be in the nation’s best interest to maintain its part of the deal and avoid international scrutiny. Under the deal the U.S. has pledged to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions 26-28 percent below 2005 levels by 2025.
“In order to push forward, on what countries have agreed to in Paris, I will spend an enormous amount of time and energy to make sure that happens,” Clinton said at the town hall.
The candidate also called for expanded support for climate change programs. “Sea levels are rising, the climate is getting warmer. We’re seeing the effects right now. We cannot wait. This is not just an issue for academics and activists; this is an issue for everybody,” she said.
Clinton swept the South Carolina primary on Saturday, taking 73.5 percent of the vote, leaving runner-up Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) with 26 percent of the vote. Former Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley, who has already ended his campaign, took .2 percent of the vote.
