FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JUNE 1, 2017
Contact: Samantha Schipani, Media Coordinator, Mojave Desert Land Trust
Phone: 760-820-2275
samantha@mdlt.org

Mojave Desert Land Trust Responds to U.S. Withdrawal from Paris Agreement

Joshua Tree, CA – Today, President Donald Trump withdrew the United States from the Paris Agreement, an international climate change agreement addressing greenhouse gases emissions mitigation, adaptation and finance starting in the year 2020. Without the United States’ commitment to reducing greenhouse gases emissions, scientists predict that the Earth is likely to hit dangerous levels of warming sooner than expected.

The Mojave Desert is especially vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. By 2050, the annual mean temperature in the Mojave Desert is expected climb over 4 degrees Fahrenheit and mean annual precipitation could fall by as much as 2.6 inches. The Mojave Desert Land Trust (MDLT) views backing out of the Paris Agreement as a direct threat to desert lands.

“Plants in the Mojave Desert depend on a delicate ecological balance,” commented Madena Asbell, Nursery and Seed Bank Manager, MDLT. “We have already seen the impact of rising temperatures on flora throughout our desert lands. Without global action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, our native plants are at risk.”

“Climate change is a real threat to desert ecosystems,” commented Frazier Haney, Conservation Director, MDLT. “We will continue to work towards protecting wild desert lands that sequester carbon, building resiliency, and standing up for policies that address the changing climate.”

The Mojave Desert Land Trust (MDLT) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with the mission to protect and care for lands with natural, scenic and cultural value within the Mojave Desert. For more information, visit www.mdlt.org