GHG Emissions, Sourcing Renewables  -  January 29, 2019

U.S. Climate Alliance up to 19 members

With the addition of New Mexico and Illinois, the U.S. Climate Alliance, a national coalition of states committed to reducing GHG emissions consistent with the goals of the Paris Agreement, now has a total of 19 members.

A report by the Albuquerque Journal said that Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s order to join the Alliance was “part of a far-reaching plan to shift the state toward a renewable energy economy.” At a news conference, the Democratic governor described the order as a “game-changer” that outlines broad, state-level initiatives to make up for a lack of federal action on climate change. “

The U.S. Climate Alliance was formed in 2017 after President Donald Trump announced the U.S. withdrawal from the Paris Agreement. Current members include California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington.

These members agree to implement policies that advance the goals of the Paris Agreement, aiming to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 26-28 percent below 2005 levels by 2025; track and report progress to the global community in appropriate settings, including when the world convenes to take stock of the Paris Agreement and accelerate new and existing policies to reduce carbon pollution and promote clean energy deployment at the state and federal level.