Tillerson Tries to Reassure About Paris Agreement, Saying US Will Continue Carbon Reductions

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said on Friday, June 2, the United States is not going to change “ongoing efforts to reduce [greenhouse gas] emissions in the future,” despite withdrawing from the Paris Climate Accord.After welcoming Brazilian Foreign Minister Aloysio Nunes Ferreira to the US State Department on June 2, Tillerson answered a question about the agreement among 195 countries, saying the U.S. has a “terrific record” on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and will continue that record even in the “absence of a Paris agreement,” and that “hopefully, people can keep it in perspective.”The Trump administration heard criticism from a number of quarters on the US withdrawal, with energy adviser and Tesla founder Elon Musk immediately resigning his role and many corporations saying they would continue despite the move. Tillerson, a former oil and gas executive, was said to favor remaining in the agreement.