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Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer today announced her plans to join the U.S. Climate Alliance at a press conference in Lansing. She stated that “We’ve got to take action to protect our state from the effects of climate change. The science is in, and it’s time we get to work to mitigate the impact of climate change for the sake of our kids and future generations in Michigan.”
The Alliance was formed in June 2017 in response to President Trump’s announced intent to withdraw the U.S. from the Paris Agreement. By joining the Alliance, governors commit to:
With Michigan as its newest member, the Alliance represents nearly half of the U.S. population and an economy over $10 trillion. The climate and clean energy policies of these states will now be addressing one third of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. So far, over 1.5 million renewable energy and energy efficiency jobs have been created in Alliance states, equivalent to 55 percent of all clean energy jobs in the United States.
In addition to joining the Alliance, Governor Whitmer’s suite of Executive Orders and Directives also ordered the restructuring of the Department of Environmental Quality as the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), as well as the creation of a new office of climate and energy that will work with the governor to mitigate the impacts of climate change, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and embrace more sustainable energy solutions.
U.S. Climate Alliance Executive Director Julie Cerqueira welcomed Governor Whitmer’s announcement, noting, “Governor Whitmer has acknowledged the real risks that climate change poses to the Midwest and the economic opportunities that come with moving towards a low carbon future. We look forward to supporting her priorities like increasing Michigan’s supply of clean electricity, modernizing its power grid, and making sure the state is at the forefront of electric vehicle technology.”
The Alliance was formed in June 2017 in response to President Trump’s announced intent to withdraw the U.S. from the Paris Agreement. Each state commits to reducing their emissions in line with the U.S. target under Paris, and all have enacted new climate policy measures since joining the Alliance. In September, the Alliance announced a suite of new commitments, including the deployment of $1.4 billion to decarbonize transportation and take steps to protect natural and working lands as carbon sinks by 2020.
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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