WASHINGTON (AP) β Secretary of State Rex Tillerson downplayed the significance of the U.S. pullout from the Paris climate pact, arguing Friday that America still will continue taking steps to cut heat-trapping pollution.
In his first public comments on President Donald Trumpβs move, Tillerson called it a policy decision by the president. Tillerson, a former Exxon Mobil CEO, had urged Trump not to abandon the deal but was ultimately overruled.
Tillerson said people need to recognize that the U.S. has a βterrific recordβ of reducing its own greenhouse gas emissions, adding that it is βsomething I think we can be proud of.β
βThat was done in the absence of the Paris agreement,β Tillerson said. βI donβt think weβre going to change our effort to reduce our emission in the future, either.β
βSo hopefully, people can keep it in perspective,β the secretary added.
Tillerson spoke at the State Department during a photo-op with visiting Brazilian Foreign Minister Aloysio Nunes Ferreira
