[van id=”politics/2017/06/02/pruitt-paris-climate-accord-nothing-to-apologize-for-sot.cnn”]
WASHINGTON (AP) — EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt is dodging the question of whether the president believes climate change is real and a threat to the U.S.
Pruitt spoke at a White House briefing the day after President Donald Trump said the U.S. will abandon the Paris climate accord.
Asked about Trump’s views on climate change, Pruitt says they were focused on “one singular issue” — whether the Paris deal would be good or bad for the country.
He says Trump concluded it would put the nation at an economic disadvantage.
Meanwhile, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson says he believes the United States will keep reducing greenhouse gas emissions despite pulling out of the Paris climate change pact.
It’s the first public comment on the decision from Tillerson, who had urged President Donald Trump not to abandon the deal.
Tillerson is downplaying the significance of Trump’s decision to withdraw from the global agreement. He says it was a “policy decision” and that he hopes “people can keep it in perspective.”
Tillerson says the U.S. has “a terrific record” in curbing greenhouse gas emissions. He says it’s something the U.S. can be proud of. Tillerson points out those reductions took place even before the Paris agreement went into effect.
Tillerson spoke as he met Friday with Brazil’s foreign minister.
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