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“The Inflation Reduction Act offers a federal shot-in-the-arm to building efficiency, emissions reduction plans, and equity efforts. The measure, signed by President Joe Biden on Aug. 16, is motivating state policymakers to consider how to seize on the once-unexpected congressional support on climate.”
“‘What’s impressive about the package is the suite of tools that it gives to state leaders to kick-start work to decarbonize across sectors,’ said Casey Katims, executive director of the U.S. Climate Alliance, a bipartisan governors group. ‘It gives tools to states to adopt more stringent tailpipe emission standards. It gives tools to states to promote natural carbon sequestration on lands. It gives tools to states to deploy zero-emission technologies.’”
“’I think this bill is just a start,’ Katims from the U.S. Climate Alliance said. ‘And I think we all hope that this paves the way for even more ambitious action in the future.’”
Launched on June 1, 2017 by the governors of Washington, New York, and California to help fill the void left by the previous administration’s decision to withdraw the U.S. from the Paris Agreement, the Alliance has grown to include 24 governors from across the U.S. representing approximately 60% of the U.S. economy and 55% of the U.S. population. Governors in the Alliance have pledged to collectively reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 26-28% below 2005 levels by 2025, at least 50-52% below 2005 levels by 2030, and collectively achieve overall net-zero greenhouse gas emissions as soon as practicable, and no later than 2050.
The Alliance’s states and territories continue to demonstrate that climate action goes hand-in-hand with economic growth, job creation, and better public health. While reducing emissions by 18% between 2005 and 2021, Alliance members grew their collective GDP by nearly 30%. The coalition’s states and territories are employing more workers in the clean energy sector, achieving lower levels of dangerous air pollutants, and preparing more effectively for climate impacts and executing more pre-disaster planning than the rest of the country.
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