WASHINGTON, D.C. – In response to the release of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, the U.S. Climate Alliance issued the following statement from Executive Director Casey Katims:
“We applaud Senate leadership for reaching a compromise that includes historic investments to address our climate crisis, create good jobs, and save Americans money. Now, it’s time for Congress to swiftly pass this legislation and for President Biden and our states to further utilize our authority across all levels of government to speed America’s transition to a net-zero economy. Wildfires are raging, lakes are disappearing, and people are dying due to extreme heat — we have no time to waste.”
This legislation comes after 22 Alliance governors called for a bold climate and clean energy package from Congress in June.
Launched in 2017 by the governors of Washington, New York, and California to help fill the void left by the U.S. federal government’s withdrawal from the Paris Agreement, the Alliance has grown to include 24 governors from across the U.S. representing approximately 60 percent of the U.S. economy and 55 percent of the U.S. population. Governors in the Alliance have pledged to collectively reduce net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 26-28 percent by 2025, 50-52 percent by 2030, and 61-66 percent by 2035, all below 2005 levels, 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 advance innovative and impactful climate solutions to grow the economy, create jobs, and protect public health, and have a long record of action and results. In fact, the latest data shows that as of 2023, the Alliance has reduced its collective net greenhouse gas emissions by 24 percent below 2005 levels, while increasing collective GDP by 34 percent, and is on track to meet its near-term climate goal of reducing collective greenhouse gas emissions 26 percent below 2005 levels by 2025.
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