DeVos praises Paris withdrawal, won’t comment on human role in climate change: ‘Certainly, the climate changes’ – Washington Post

Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, who on Thursday praised President Trumps withdrawal from the Paris climate change accord, declined to comment Friday on the extent to which human activity has driven climate change over the last half-century.

She instead reiterated her praisefor Trumps decision during a visit to a D.C. charter school, saying that he hadmade good on a promise to ensure that the American people are not subject to overreach and fulfilled a commitment to keep America first and to focus on American jobs.

Pressed by reporters for her personal views on climate change, DeVos said: Certainly, the climate changes. Yes.

DeVos said she didnt have an answer to a question about what the United States should do to confront the challenges of climate change. Im here to talk about students and schools today, and I would hope that we could focus on the opportunity that these kids have in this unique environment and this unique school with amazing teachers and administrators, she said.

Eagle Academy Public Charter School enrolls about 700 students in preschool through third grade, about 20 percent of whom have identified disabilities.

DeVos who this week unveiled a revamped website on special-education law toureda special education classroom and a sensory room where students receive occupational therapy, and she read Dr. Seusss classic Oh, the Places Youll Go! to a group of students in the library. She also toured the schools science fair.

Former president Barack Obama on June 1 said President Trump's administration "joins a small handful of nations that reject the future" by withdrawing from the Paris climate deal. (Bastien Inzaurralde/The Washington Post)

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DeVos praises Paris withdrawal, won't comment on human role in climate change: 'Certainly, the climate changes' - Washington Post