GLASGOW, SCOTLAND – As the world’s leaders convene in Glasgow for the most consequential UN Climate Change Conference since Paris, the U.S. Climate Alliance today announced the next generation of “High-Impact Actions” its states will pursue to limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius and help achieve the U.S. nationally-determined contributions (NDC) and the Alliance’s 2030 and 2050 climate goals. The U.S. Climate Alliance is a bipartisan coalition of U.S. governors leading states that collectively represent 62% of U.S. GDP, 56% of the U.S. population, and 43% of U.S. emissions.

 

“The U.S. Climate Alliance’s states are leading the world in the development and execution of new, innovative, and effective climate policies and actions, and today, we continue to press forward,” said U.S. Climate Alliance Acting Executive Director and Policy Director Taryn Finnessey. “The climate threat knows no borders and when we share solutions and expertise — not just with one another in the Alliance, but also with other like-minded subnational leaders around the world — we can truly turn the tide.”

 

To guide its work in the years ahead, the Alliance collectively identified eight priority policy areas related to power, buildings, industry, transportation, just transition and equity, resilience, natural and working lands, and the social cost of greenhouse gases. Within each of these priority areas, individual Alliance states committed to more than 40 specific and new High-Impact Actions that will accelerate greenhouse gas emission reductions, complement and spur federal efforts, and drive the sort of tangible, impactful implementation and results needed to make the U.S. climate targets a reality. These bold new actions include several states committing to: 100% net-zero operating emissions for new construction beginning in 2030; 100% zero-emission new light-duty vehicle sales by 2035; implementation of a low carbon fuel standard to reduce the carbon intensity of fuels; and conserving at least 30% of land and coastal waters by 2030. These new High-Impact Actions build and expand on years of increasingly ambitious commitments and actions from all of the Alliance’s states and complement strong climate and clean energy action plans being developed to guide work in the years ahead by a number of Alliance states, including: Delaware, Louisiana, Michigan, Nevada, New York, and Wisconsin.

 

Today’s announcement is part of a larger, coordinated effort among state and regional governments from coalitions spanning the globe, including the Under2 Coalition and C40, which also announced a number of new complementary climate actions and commitments. This collective effort is intended to drive further ambition among subnational leaders, as well as national governments — and showcases strong examples of visionary policies Alliance states will continue to pursue to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions.

 

Priority Policy Areas and High-Impact Actions:

 

Power: Alliance states will develop policy pathways and programs to decarbonize the electricity grid, including establishing interim targets and identifying opportunities to better align planning and procurement processes for generation, distribution, and transmission resources with our collective climate goals.

 

>NEW HIGH-IMPACT ACTIONS:

• Evaluate current procurement and planning processes to ensure sufficient generation, distribution, and transmission infrastructure can be built in line with climate goals. (IL, RI, WA)

• Advance solar and storage solutions for the most vulnerable post-disasters. (LA)

• Tiered tax incentives for clean energy generation and component manufacturing development, with greater incentives for higher labor standards. (WA)

 

>THE BIG PICTURE: Alliance states have adopted or are in the process of adopting the following: 100% clean electricity goals (19: CA, CO, CT, HI, IL, ME, MD, MN, NC, NV, NM, NY, NJ, OR, PR, RI, VA, WA, WI); and renewable portfolio standards (22: CA, CO, CT, DE, HI, IL, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, NV, NM, NJ, NY, NC, OR, PA, RI, VT, VA, WA).

 

Buildings: Alliance states will develop policy pathways and programs to eliminate emissions from buildings, including supporting the development and adoption of zero-emissions building codes.

 

>NEW HIGH-IMPACT ACTIONS:

• 100% net-zero operating emissions government buildings by 2030. (HI, ME, OR)

• 100% net-zero operating emissions for new construction beginning in 2030. (OR, WA)

• Align Energy Efficiency Resource Standards or utility demand side management program goals, budgets, and activities with achievement of climate goals. (CO, MA, RI, WA)

• Initiate gas local distribution company system planning proceedings to plan for system investments in alignment with decarbonization goals. (CO, MA, WA)

• Establish new state appliance efficiency standards for appliances not covered under federal efficiency standards. (MA, WA)

 

>THE BIG PICTURE: Alliance states have adopted or are in the process of adopting the following: Electric utility energy efficiency resource standards (21: CA, CO, CT, DE, HI, IL, ME, MD, MI, MN, NV, NM, NJ, NY, OR, PA, RI, VA, VT, WA, WI); gas utility energy efficiency resource standards (15: CA, CO, CT, DE, IL, ME,  MI, MN, NJ, NY, OR, RI, VT, WA, WI); appliance efficiency standards (13: CA, CO, CT, HI, MA, ME, MD, NV, NY, OR, RI, VT, WA); and building performance standards (2: CO, WA).

 

Industry: Alliance states will establish innovative policy frameworks for eliminating GHG emissions from the industrial sector and its supply chains while fostering the growth of a strong, domestic clean manufacturing economy.

 

>NEW HIGH-IMPACT ACTIONS:

• Reduce emissions from cooling equipment by 20% by 2030 (i.e., HFC phasedown). (WA)

• Advance performance-based emissions standards for industrial products (e.g., buy clean policies, clean product standards). (WA)

• Incentivize, plan for, and invest in domestic clean energy manufacturing through new programs. (WA)

• Adopt industrial permitting and siting standards that account for disproportionate pollution burdens on overburdened and vulnerable communities. (MA, WA)

• Reduce methane emissions from the oil and gas sector 45-50% by 2025 and no less than 75-80% by 2030, below 2015 levels. (NM)

 

>THE BIG PICTURE: Alliance states have adopted or are in the process of adopting the following: Regulations addressing hydrofluorocarbons (14: CA, CO, DE, MA, ME, MD, NJ, NY, OR, RI, VA, VT, WA, WI); regulations addressing methane from oil and gas, landfill, and agricultural sources (10: CA, CO, MD, MA, NM, NY, OR, PA, VA, VT); regulations addressing GHG emissions from industrial sources (5: CA, CO, MA, OR, WA); and buy clean programs, studies, or pilot projects (4: CA, CO, MN, WA).

 

Transportation: Alliance states will develop policy pathways and programs to decarbonize the transportation sector by reducing vehicle miles traveled and significantly increasing access to and the affordability of zero-emission vehicles, clean fuels, and multi-modal options.

 

>NEW HIGH-IMPACT ACTIONS:

• 100% zero-emission new light-duty vehicle sales by 2035. (HI, MA, OR, WA)

• 100% zero-emission light-duty public fleets by 2035. (HI, NY, OR, WA)

• 100% zero-emission public/government-owned transit bus fleets by 2030. (HI, OR)

• 100% zero-emission medium- & heavy-duty public fleets by 2040, where technically feasible. (HI, IL, NY, OR, WA)

• Promote sustainable communities that provide a range of affordable housing and transportation options that increase access to opportunity and reduce vehicle miles travelled. (CT, HI, MA, ME, MN, NM, NY, RI, WA)

• 30% VMT reduction by 2035 and 50% by 2050. (OR)

• Implement a low-carbon fuel standard to reduce the carbon intensity of fuels. (NM, MA)

• Invest at least 35% of cap-and-invest program revenues for transportation into overburdened communities. (WA)

• In partnership with frontline communities, increase investments to create walkable, bikeable neighborhoods, well connected by affordable, frequent transit. (OR, MA, WA)

 

>THE BIG PICTURE: Alliance states have adopted or are in the process of adopting the following: Low-emission vehicle standards (18: CA, CO, CT, DE, ME, MD, MA, MN, NM, NV, NJ, NY, OR, PA, RI, VT, VA, WA); zero-emission vehicle standards (16: CA, CO, CT, ME, MD, MA, MN, NM, NV, NJ, NY, OR, RI, VT, VA, WA) with CA and NY also targeting 100% ZEV sales by 2035; clean-truck standards (6: CA, MA, ME, NJ, NY, WA); and clean fuels standards (3: CA, OR, WA).

 

Just Transition and Equity: Alliance states will partner with frontline communities to develop climate and clean energy solutions; provide training, facilitation, and funding that bolsters capacity and fosters leadership in those communities; and direct significant expenditures to create environmental and economic benefits for vulnerable and overburdened populations and grow family-sustaining jobs.

 

>NEW HIGH-IMPACT ACTIONS:

• Empower overburdened and vulnerable communities and foster leadership to develop climate/clean energy solutions and policies through training, facilitation, and funding. (CT, HI, IL, MA, NY, OR)

• Commit to a just transition that provides for sustainable livelihoods for those reliant on the fossil fuel economy in the shift to more sustainable systems and practices. (CO, HI, MA, ME, MI, NM, NY, WA)

• Integrate racial and gender diversity in developing environmental solutions to the climate crisis. (HI, IL, RI, MA, MI, NY, WA)

• Establish governance structures that include the voice of frontline communities and advance the work of efforts already underway to address systemic inequality. (RI, MA, MI, WA)

• Establish training programs that provide pathways to high-road, family sustaining jobs for both current and future workers. (RI, MA, ME, MI, WA)

• Establish clear and transparent participatory processes and practices across government that not only promote diverse and meaningful input but also promote cross government alignment. (MA, MI, WA)

• Establish a goal that least 40% of the benefits of expenditures with environmental and economic benefits flow to vulnerable populations and disadvantaged communities, including remote communities. (IL, NY, WA)

 

>THE BIG PICTURE: Alliance states have adopted or are in the process of adopting the following: Environmental justice offices or interagency governance structures (17: CA, CO, CT, IL, LA, MD, MA, MI, MN, NJ, NM, NY, NC, OR, PA, VT, VA); environmental justice screening and policy tools (15: CA, CO, CT, IL, MD, MA, MN, NJ, NM, NY, NC, PA, RI, WA, WI); and just transition offices or interagency bodies (6: CA, CO, MN, NM, NJ, NY).

 

Resilience: Alliance states will integrate physical climate risk and prioritize climate adaptation and equity in state planning and decision making to help communities prevent, reduce, withstand, and recover from climate-related impacts and disasters. States, which have varying needs and capacity, will utilize and share best practices to bolster resilience and tailor effective solutions.

 

>NEW HIGH-IMPACT ACTIONS:

• Create a statewide climate assessment or vulnerability assessment. (MA, ME, NM, NY, RI, WA)

• Implement pilot or demonstration projects to show how infrastructure can be made resilient. (MA, NC)

• Advance solar and storage solutions for most vulnerable post-disasters. (LA)

 

>THE BIG PICTURE: Alliance states have adopted or are in the process of adopting the following: Resilience or adaptation plans (20: CA, CO, CT, DE, HI, LA, ME, MI, MD, MA, MN, NJ, NY, NC, OR, PA, RI, VA, VT, WA) and resilience offices or interagency bodies (14: CA, CO, CT, HI, LA, MA, MN, ME, NC, NJ, OR, RI, VA, WA).

 

Natural and Working Lands: Scale best practices for land management, restoration, and conservation to contribute to emission reductions and carbon sequestration at the scale needed for deep decarbonization. Where appropriate, integrate natural and working lands into state mitigation and resilience plans with ambitious goals that center equity and prioritize actions that deliver multiple benefits.

 

>NEW HIGH-IMPACT ACTIONS:

• Conserve at least 30% of land and coastal waters by 2030. (HI, LA, MI, OR, WA)

• Commit to large scale restoration of forests and other locally indigenous ecosystems. (HI, LA, MA, NM, RI)

• Increase tree canopy in disadvantaged and/or heat vulnerable communities by at least 40% by 2030 to mitigate urban heat island effects. (HI, OR)

• Increase consumption of food produced within the jurisdiction to at least 20-30% of food consumed by 2030. (HI, OR)

• Halt biodiversity loss by 2030 and aim for habitat and population gains by 2035. (RI)

• Improve inventory methods for land-based carbon flux. (LA, MA, MD, MN, NV, WA)

• Identify best practices to reduce GHG emissions and increase resilient carbon sequestration. (MD, MN, WA)

• Undertake actions that support a collective, Alliance-wide goal to maintain natural and working lands as a net sink of carbon and protect and increase carbon storage capacity. (MA, MD, MN, WA)

• Advance programs, policies, and incentives to enhance resilient carbon sequestration. (ME)

 

>THE BIG PICTURE: Alliance states have adopted or are in the process of adopting the following: Natural and Working Lands in state GHG inventories (15: CA, CO, DE, HI, MD, MA, ME, MN, NV, NM, NJ, NC, VT, WA, WI); healthy soils legislation (9: CA, CO, HI, IL,  ME, MD, NM, VT, WA); and Natural and Working Lands conservation or sequestration goals (9: CA, CO, DE, HI, MA, MD, NM, OR, WI).

 

Social Cost of Greenhouse Gases: Alliance states will consider societal and environmental impacts of GHG emissions and climate change, including the social cost of greenhouse gases, across relevant policy-making and decision-making processes, and guidance from the federal government’s Interagency Working Group on the Social Cost of Greenhouse Gases and the academic and scientific communities.

 

>NEW HIGH-IMPACT ACTIONS:

• Consider utilizing the SC-GHG in Cost-Benefit Analysis as a part of rulemakings or environmental assessments. (HI)

• Work towards describing the societal benefits of strategic plans, programs, or policies that will reduce GHG emissions. (HI)

• Consider incorporating the SC-GHG when evaluating state procurements, contracts, grants, or permitting. (HI)

 

>THE BIG PICTURE: Alliance states have adopted or are in the process of adopting the following: Utilizing social cost of greenhouse gases in policymaking (15: CA, CO, CT, IL, MA, ME, MD, MN, NV, NJ, NY, OR, PA, VA, WA) and participating in carbon markets (13: CA, CT, DE, ME, MD, MA, NJ, NY, PA, RI, VA, VT, WA).