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“FC: What’s the role that states can play now in climate action?
JI: The states are, in some sense, where the next game will be played. Under the current situation in Congress, it’s unlikely that you’re going to be able to see major strides forward. But we can in our states. [A group of states called the U.S. Climate Alliance] represents 60% of the whole U.S. economy. So this is the place we can make major steps forward. The action is in governors’ races and state legislative races now. I commend people to think about it in those terms, to support people that can really help.”
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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