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WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Climate Alliance — a bipartisan coalition of governors representing states with more than 60 percent of U.S. GDP, 55 percent of the U.S. population and 40 percent of U.S. emissions — committed today to collectively achieving overall net-zero greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) as soon as practicable, and no later than 2050, and reduce collective net GHG emissions at least 50-52 percent below 2005 levels by 2030.
The Alliance today also applauded the Biden administration for setting the new U.S. climate target yesterday — known as the nationally determined contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement. The Alliance’s new science-based targets support the U.S. NDC and make clear Alliance states will continue to work together to safeguard public health, protect the environment, drive down emissions, grow the U.S. economy and create good community- and family-sustaining jobs.
“In response to the urgent threat of climate change, we commit to reduce our collective net GHG emissions at least 50-52 percent below 2005 levels by 2030 and collectively achieve overall net-zero GHG emissions as soon as practicable and no later than 2050. We will pursue a suite of climate policies to reduce and sequester GHG emissions across all sectors to meet or exceed these ambitious targets,” said the U.S. Climate Alliance.
“Recognizing that health, environmental, and economic crises disproportionately impact overburdened communities and can displace workers, we will center equity, environmental justice and a just economic transition in our efforts to achieve our climate goals. We will work together to create more participatory processes and practices across government, such as inclusive community engagement programs and equity screening tools to eliminate existing disparities as well as job training and economic diversification efforts to support workers and communities impacted by the transition to net-zero emissions.
Through these actions, we will meet our share of the U.S. NDC and will partner with this and future administrations to implement, reinforce and make more durable the U.S. climate target.”
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 collective greenhouse gas emissions by 19%, Alliance members increased their collective GDP by 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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