On the first full day of the Global Climate Action Summit, Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. and fellow Summit co-chair and America’s Pledge co-founder Michael Bloomberg today released a new report quantifying the actions by American cities, states and businesses to drive down their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and joined fellow US Climate Alliance governors to announce new commitments by the coalition.
Launched on September 13 during the Global Climate Action Summit in San Franciso, the report – “Fulfilling America’s Pledge: How States, Cities, and Businesses Are Leading the United States to a Low-Carbon Future” – illustrates that non-federal climate action will cut economy-wide emissions 17 percent below 2005 levels by 2025 – roughly two-thirds of the way to the US target under the Paris Agreement. In the absence of federal leadership, the report’s findings provide a roadmap for increased climate ambition from all levels of society.
States, cities, businesses, universities, and non-profits are showing the way with real commitment and real action on climate. We’re getting it done, but there’s still a mountain to climb, said Governor Brown at the launch of America’s Pledge Phase II Report.
Governor Brown later joined the US Climate Alliance governors, Jay Inslee of Washington, David Ige of Hawaii and Dannel Malloy of Connecticut at a news conference to announce a range of new commitments by the bipartisan, 17-state coalition, which include investing additional resources in driving down transportation emissions; developing strategies to implement super pollutant reduction targets; improving the carbon drawdown capacity of state lands; implementing innovative solar deployment measures to increase access to affordable clean energy; and adopting state-level appliance efficiency standards to save consumers money and reduce emissions.
This Summit is advancing the cause so that more and more people are aware and resolve to take whatever action they can. Yes, we need the federal government, we need the President of the United States, but in the meantime, we’re going to build the momentum and take concrete actions, as all these different states have, said Governor Brown at the US Climate Alliance press conference.
