WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada and President Enrique Peña Nieto of Mexico announced Wednesday at the North American Leaders Summit in Ottawa, Canada, several joint environmental and conservation initiatives including a goal that 50 percent of the continent’s energy will come from non-emitting sources by 2025, significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), the Ranking Member of the Foreign Relations Committee and a senior member of the Environment and Public Works committee, is the lead sponsor of a Senate Resolution calling for the U.S. to generate half of its electricity from clean energy sources by 2030. Cardin released the following statement Wednesday:

“Advancing a North American clean energy economy holds great promise and broadened market opportunities for U.S. innovators in the private sector who are developing and manufacturing advanced clean energy technologies. While I have strongly advocated for enhanced U.S. leadership on clean energy development and deployment, our continent as a whole has the opportunity to lead the world in taking these critical steps towards mitigating the root causes of global climate change. Pollution and extreme weather do not stop at national boundaries, and I welcome today’s announcement.

“More broadly, our North American neighbors are vital economic and security partners.  Together we share extensive cultural and educational ties, as well as a common environmental fate. As we look around the world and we see historic political and economic relationships – and the important institutions that support them – under stress, it is imperative that we keep our continental partnership moving forward with a clear eye on our mutual challenges and goals. The outcomes from this Summit affirm the significance of our shared history, and a strong commitment to our shared future.”

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