As we prepare to say goodbye to the Obama presidency, it's time to reflect on eight years of unprecedented progress on climate and clean energy action. For the first time, we have a global agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, which U.S.-China climate diplomacy was instrumental in negotiating. From 2009 to 2016, the U.S. economy grew by 10 percent while energy-sector greenhouse gas emissions declined by 9.5 percent - and unemployment fell from a high of 10% during the recession to 4.6% in November 2016. Over two million Americans now work in energy efficiency, and more people work in solar than the coal industry. Electricity generated from solar energy has grown over 50 fold and more than trebled from wind energy. Writing in Science, President Obama argues that the economic benefits will continue to drive the growth of the U.S. clean economy. He concludes, "Despite the policy uncertainty that we face, I remain convinced that no country is better suited to confront the climate challenge and reap the economic benefits of a low-carbon future than the United States and that continued participation in the Paris process will yield great benefit for the American people, as well as the international community."