Press Release

David J. Hayes: Trump Administration Should Listen to its Own Climate Science Report

State attorneys general serving as first line of defense for our environment

Washington, DC David J. Hayes, executive director of the State Energy & Environmental Impact Center at NYU School of Law and former Interior deputy secretary in the Obama and Clinton Administrations, released the following statement after the Trump Administration released a report showing human action largely drives climate change:

“The correlation between human activity and climate change is indisputable. The cabinet secretaries who double as climate deniers should heed their own Administration’s warnings.

“In the absence of federal leaders who make decisions based on facts and science, state attorneys general have never been more important in the fight to protect our environment. Since the Trump Administration began, they’ve filed an average of two lawsuits a month and taken dozens of other actions to stop their rollbacks of basic environmental protections. Their lawsuits are forcing the Trump Administration to obey the law and think twice about nixing crucial regulations. Anyone who values environmental protections will continue to rely on attorneys general playing this unprecedented role.”

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About the State Energy & Environmental Impact Center:
The State Energy & Environmental Impact Center at NYU School of Law is a nonpartisan academic center at NYU School of Law. The Center is dedicated to working towards a healthy and safe environment, guided by inclusive and equitable principles. The Center studies and supports the work of state attorneys general (AGs) in defending, enforcing, and promoting strong laws and policies in the areas of climate, environmental justice, environmental protection, and clean energy.