Comptroller Kevin Lembo Archive > News
LEMBO SAYS CONNECTICUT'S ENVIRONMENTAL AND ECONOMIC FUTURE BOTH DEPEND ON JOINING MULTI-STATE COALITION TO UPHOLD PARIS CLIMATE AGREEMENTComptroller Kevin Lembo today said Connecticut - for the sake of its environment and economic future - must join the growing bipartisan coalition of states, cities, business leaders and academic institutions that pledge to uphold the Paris Climate Agreement.
"One man can walk away, but the people of Connecticut - and leaders from across the nation - are still here," Lembo said. "No fact-driven, future-focused leader is walking away from science, data, innovation and our environmental and economic future.
"Connecticut is a leader in clean energy production. The fuel cell industry employs about 3,000 people in Connecticut and generates approximately $600 million per year in revenue," Lembo said. "The environmental ramifications of yesterday's Paris Climate Agreement withdrawal are clear, but so is the potential economic devastation to our state.
"Connecticut, despite its incredible strengths, has financially struggled for many years - but is ready for an economic transformation. Clean energy innovation is an essential component of Connecticut's economic future - on its way to becoming the fuel cell development capital of the northeast, which could add as many as 6,000 jobs each year to the Connecticut economy if current growth in that industry here is maintained.
"The environmental ramifications of withdrawal from the Paris Climate
Agreement are clear - but so are the economic consequences."
***END***