Coal power plant in Brandenburg, Germany. Patrick Pleul/EPA via Zuma Press
Just hours after President Donald Trump announced his intention to withdraw the United States from the Paris Climate Agreement, three state governors announced the formation of the United States Climate Alliance, a consortium that will work to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, even with national leadership on climate. Change falters.
“If the president will sit out this critically important humanitarian effort, California and other states will step up,” California Governor Jerry Brown said.
Currently, the coalition includes California, New York and Washington state. And the governors of those states, Jerry Brown, Andrew Cuomo, and Jay Inslee, respectively, He issued a statement on Thursday Describing how the new coalition will build nationwide partnerships to continue aggressive U.S. action on climate change and support the goals and standards of the Paris Agreement.
“The President has already said climate change is a hoax, which is contrary to almost all scientific and global opinion,” Governor Brown said in the statement. “I don’t think fighting reality is a good strategy — not for America, not for anyone. If the president is going to be absent from this critically important humanitarian endeavor, California and other states will step up.”
Governor Cuomo echoed this sentiment. He said, “Trump’s reckless decision to withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement has devastating repercussions not only for the United States, but for our planet.” “This administration is abdicating its leadership and taking a backseat to other countries in the global fight against climate change.”
California, New York, and Washington combined are home to nearly 70 million people, about 20 percent of the U.S. population. Their governments have already begun to take the necessary measures. For example, the California State Senate The legislation passed on Wednesday It requires California to develop 100% of its electricity needs from renewable resources by 2045.
So far, no other country has signed the alliance, although 61 American mayors have He also pledged on Thursday That their cities will adhere to the principles of the Paris Climate Agreement.