United States Climate Alliance

Last updated

United States Climate Alliance
US-climate-alliance.svg
  United States Climate Alliance
  Former members
TypeSubnational coalition (not legally binding)
Membership
22 out of 50 states [1]
2 out of 5 territories [1]
Leaders
• Co-chair
Flag of New York.svg Kathy Hochul
• Co-chair
Flag of New Mexico.svg Michelle Lujan Grisham
EstablishmentJune 1, 2017
Population
• 2022 estimate
179,618,352 [a] (8th)
GDP  (PPP)2023 estimate
• Total
$11.516 trillion [b] (4th)
• Per capita
$64,115(10th)
Website
USClimateAlliance.org [12]

The United States Climate Alliance is a bipartisan coalition of states and unincorporated self-governing territories in the United States that are committed to upholding the objectives of the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change within their borders, by achieving the U.S. goal of reducing greenhouse gas (carbon dioxide equivalent) economy-wide emissions 26–28% from 2005 levels by 2025 [13] and meeting or exceeding the targets of the federal Clean Power Plan.

Contents

The Alliance was formed on June 1, 2017, following the announcement earlier that day by President Donald Trump that he had decided to withdraw the United States from the Paris Agreement. The Alliance also forms a forum for its members to further develop and strengthen their existing Climate Action Plans, through sharing of information and best practices.

As of August 19, 2024, the 24 members of the Alliance at the time made up 55% of the U.S. population and over 60% of U.S. GDP. [c] Vermont is currently the only state with a Republican governor to be part of the alliance. After excluding Puerto Rico and Guam figures from the emission total (required due to their status as territories rather than states), the 2023 members' combined share of U.S. carbon dioxide emissions was 42% in 2020. [14] [7]

The re-election of Donald Trump and the subsequent second withdrawal from the Paris Agreement in 2025 brought the alliance back in the spotlight. [15]

History

Prior the founding of the alliance, 12 states led by Democratic governors signed a petition urging the president of the United States to stay in the Paris Agreement on May 3. A similar petition was signed by 2 states led by Republican governors on May 17. [16]

The Alliance was formed on June 1, 2017, following the announcement earlier that day by President Donald Trump that he had decided to withdraw the United States from the Paris Agreement. The formation of the Alliance was announced by three state governors: Jay Inslee of Washington, Andrew Cuomo of New York, and Jerry Brown of California. The Alliance is not a legally binding treaty, but a grouping of state governments with similar policies regarding climate change. [17]

The founding press statement was released in three versions on June 1, which all stated that: "New York, California and Washington, representing over one-fifth of U.S. Gross Domestic Product, are committed to achieving the U.S. goal of reducing emissions 26–28 percent from 2005 levels and meeting or exceeding the targets of the federal Clean Power Plan." [17] [18] [19] The governors of the three founding states are members of the Democratic Party, although the alliance itself is founded as a bipartisan coalition also open for membership of states governed by members of the Republican Party.

By the evening of June 1, the state governors of seven other U.S. states (Connecticut, Hawaii, Oregon, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Vermont and Virginia) announced their intention to maintain their states' support for the Paris Agreement, though not necessarily as part of the Alliance. All those seven states expressing Paris agreement support on June 1, opted to become members of the Alliance within the next four days. Nearly 70% of Americans, including a majority of people in all 50 states, support the Paris Agreement on climate change. [20]

On June 2, Governor Dan Malloy announced that Connecticut would join the Alliance. [21] On the same day, Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker became the first Republican governor to bring his state into the Alliance. [22] Governor Phil Scott of Vermont, another Republican, said his state would join. [23] Governor Gina Raimondo said Rhode Island would also join. [24] Governor Kate Brown said Oregon would join. [25] Governor David Ige of Hawaii announced that Hawaii would also join, making them the 9th state in the Alliance. [26]

On June 5, Democratic Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe announced that Virginia would join the Alliance. [27] Governor Mark Dayton of Minnesota, Governor John Carney of Delaware, and Governor Ricardo Rosselló of Puerto Rico joined the Alliance on June 5. [28] On July 11, Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper announced that Colorado would join the Alliance, bringing the total number of members to 14 (thirteen states and Puerto Rico.) [29] [30]

On July 13, the alliance's official website was launched. [12] As of the launch of the website, the members of the alliance comprised 13 out of the 14 states having signed a petition urging the president of the United States to stay in the Paris Agreement in May 2017 (only Pennsylvania had opted not to join).

On September 20, North Carolina governor Roy Cooper announced that his state would join the Alliance, bringing the total number of state members to 14. [31] On January 10, 2018, Maryland governor Larry Hogan made his state the third Republican-led state to join the Alliance, bringing the total number of state members to 15. [32] On February 21, 2018, newly elected New Jersey governor Phil Murphy announced that his state was joining the Alliance, bringing the total number of state members to 16. [33]

In January 2019, Governors J. B. Pritzker of Illinois and Michelle Lujan Grisham of New Mexico announced that their states would join the Alliance, bringing the total number of state members to 18. [34] [35] [36]

In February 2019, Governors Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan, Tony Evers of Wisconsin and Janet Mills of Maine announced that their states would join the Alliance, bringing the total number of state members to 21. [37] [38]

In March 2019, Governor Steve Sisolak of Nevada announced that his state would join the Alliance, bringing the total number of state members to 22. [39] In April 2019, Governor Tom Wolf of Pennsylvania announced that his state would join the Alliance as well, bringing the total number of state members to 23. [40] In July 2019, Governor Steve Bullock of Montana announced that his state would join the Alliance, bringing the total number of state members to 24. [41]

In the years since 2019, the elections of Greg Gianforte to Governor of Montana in 2020 [42] and Glenn Youngkin to Governor of Virginia in January 2022, [43] led to their states leaving the Alliance; meanwhile, John Bel Edwards, who served as Governor of Louisiana since 2016, joined on May 7, 2021, [44] as did Governor of Guam Lou Leon Guerrero on February 20, 2023. [2] Election of the Republican governor Joe Lombardo led to Nevada leaving the climate aliance on July 12, 2023. [45] Arizona joined the alliance on July 17, 2023. [46] The election of Jeff Landry as Governor of Louisiana, led to Louisiana leaving the alliance in January 2024. [47] The alliance today counts 24 jurisdictions, of which Vermont is the only one represented by a Republican governor. [1]

Following the second inauguration of Donald Trump, he signed an executive order to withdraw from the Paris Agreement for a second time. Co-chairs of the Climate Alliance Kathy Hochul and Michelle Lujan Grisham announced that they would lead a delegation to the United Nations Climate Change Conference later in the year. [15]

Membership

As of November 2024, the following 22 out of 50 states and 2 out of 5 territories are members. [1] The federal District of Columbia is governed by a Democratic mayor, [48] and due to their status being more similar to a city rather than a state, they opted to become a member of the Mayors National Climate Action Agenda instead of seeking membership of the U.S. Climate Alliance.

The Climate Alliance is maintained by a Secretariat of staff members who carry out the duties of the Alliance. [49] The Secretariat is headquartered at the offices of the United Nations Foundation in Washington, D.C.

The alliance is a non-binding organization, in which membership is indicated and supported by state executive orders enacted by participating governors rather than an interstate compact or trigger law passed by state legislatures.

State/territory [1] GovernorJoinedCO2 emissions from fuel use and energy production in 1990, 2005 and 2014
(million metric tons) [14] 		CO2 emissions per capita in 2015 [50]
(metric tons)
Flag of California.svg  California Gavin Newsom   D 363.8389.4358.09.3
Flag of New York.svg  New York Kathy Hochul  D208.9211.6169.78.5
Flag of Washington.svg  Washington Jay Inslee  D70.978.573.410.6
Flag of Connecticut.svg  Connecticut Ned Lamont  D40.944.135.110.2
Flag of Rhode Island.svg  Rhode Island Dan McKee  D8.911.210.610.1
Flag of Massachusetts.svg  Massachusetts Maura Healey  D83.784.563.89.7
Flag of Vermont.svg  Vermont Phil Scott   R 5.56.85.99.4
Flag of Oregon.svg  Oregon Tina Kotek  D30.841.138.09.6
Flag of Hawaii.svg  Hawaii Josh Green  D21.723.018.413.0
Flag of Minnesota.svg  Minnesota Tim Walz   DFL 78.9101.994.916.0
Flag of Delaware.svg  Delaware John Carney  D17.617.413.314.2
Flag of Puerto Rico.svg  Puerto Rico Pedro Pierluisi   PNP 20.537.428.37.9 [14] [3]
Flag of Colorado.svg  Colorado Jared Polis  D65.295.491.616.6
Flag of North Carolina.svg  North Carolina Roy Cooper  D111.4154.0126.812.0
Flag of Maryland.svg  Maryland Wes Moore  D70.383.561.59.9
Flag of New Jersey.svg  New Jersey Phil Murphy  D11013111412.5
Flag of Illinois.svg  Illinois J. B. Pritzker  D19324623517.1
Flag of New Mexico.svg  New Mexico Michelle Lujan Grisham  D
Flag of Michigan.svg  Michigan Gretchen Whitmer  D
Flag of Wisconsin.svg  Wisconsin Tony Evers  D
Flag of Maine.svg  Maine Janet Mills  D
Flag of Pennsylvania.svg  Pennsylvania Josh Shapiro  D
Flag of Guam.svg  Guam Lou Leon Guerrero  D
Flag of Arizona.svg  Arizona Katie Hobbs  DJuly 11,
2023 [55]

Previous members

The following four states opted to leave the Climate Alliance after a few years membership.

State/territory [1] GovernorJoinedLeftCO2 emissions from fuel use and energy production in 1990, 2005 and 2014
(million metric tons) [14] 		CO2 emissions per capita in 2015 [50]
(metric tons)
Flag of Virginia.svg  Virginia Glenn Youngkin  R95.3129.2104.012.5
Flag of Nevada.svg  Nevada Joe Lombardo  R
Flag of Montana.svg  Montana Greg Gianforte  R
Flag of Louisiana.svg  Louisiana Jeff Landry  R

On October 11, 2017, the Democratic governor of the territory of American Samoa, Peleti Mauga, issued an executive order that were reported to have introduced the territory as a new member of the U.S. Climate Alliance. [58] This claimed membership was however never confirmed by the official member list, [d] and neither confirmed by any of the annual climate action reports subsequently published by the Climate Alliance. [e]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Attributed to multiple sources: [3] [4] [5] [6] [7]
  2. ↑ Attributed to multiple sources: [8] [9] [10] [11] [7]
  3. ↑ Attributed to multiple sources: [1] [3] [4] [5] [6] [8] [9] [10] [11] [7]
  4. ↑ Attributed to multiple sources: [59] [60] [61] [62] [63] [64] [65] [66]
  5. ↑ Attributed to multiple sources: [67] [68] [69] [70] [71] [72] [73] [74]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "U.S. Climate Alliance Members". U.S. Climate Alliance. Retrieved November 8, 2024.
  2. 1 2 3 Andrea Murer (February 20, 2023). "Governor Advances Guam's Position to Address Climate Crisis - Governor of Guam" . Retrieved February 25, 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 "data.census.gov". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
  4. 1 2 "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Puerto Rico". Census Bureau QuickFacts. July 1, 2022. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
  5. 1 2 "World Bank Open Data". World Bank Open Data. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
  6. 1 2 "2020 Island Areas Censuses Data Now Available for American Samoa". Census.gov. October 21, 2022. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
  7. 1 2 3 4 "Factsheet: Further. Faster. Together" (PDF). U.S. Climate Alliance. September 2022. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
  8. 1 2 "GDP by State". Bureau of Economic Analysis. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
  9. 1 2 "GDP for Puerto Rico". U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). July 26, 2022. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
  10. 1 2 "GDP for Guam". U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). November 2, 2022. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
  11. 1 2 "GDP for American Samoa". U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). September 1, 2022. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
  12. 1 2 "United States Climate Alliance Launches Website to Inform Americans on State Actions to Address Climate Change". Governor of New York. July 13, 2017. Archived from the original on November 25, 2018. Retrieved August 1, 2017.
  13. ↑ "U.S.A. First NDC Submission" (PDF). United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). September 3, 2016.
  14. 1 2 3 4 For state emissions, see "State Carbon Dioxide Emissions". www.EIA.gov. U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). Retrieved June 5, 2023.
    For Puerto Rico emissions, see "Puerto Rico: Total Carbon Dioxide Emissions from the Consumption of Energy". The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin. Retrieved June 9, 2017.
  15. 1 2 Isidore, Ella Nilsen, Matt Egan, Chris (January 20, 2025). "Trump signs actions to pull US out of Paris climate agreement, intends to promote fossil fuels and mineral mining". CNN. Retrieved January 21, 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  16. ↑ "Massachusetts and Vermont Call on Trump Administration to Stay in Paris Agreement". GeorgeTown Climate Center. May 17, 2017.
  17. 1 2 3 "Inslee, New York Governor Cuomo, and California Governor Brown announce formation of United States Climate Alliance | Governor Jay Inslee". governor.wa.gov. June 1, 2017. Retrieved June 2, 2017.
  18. 1 2 "CA Governor Brown, NY Governor Cuomo and WA Governor Inslee Announce Formation of U.S. Climate Alliance". Office of Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. June 1, 2017. Archived from the original on August 1, 2017. Retrieved August 1, 2017.
  19. 1 2 "New York Governor Cuomo, California Governor Brown, and Washington Governor Inslee Announce Formation of United States Climate Alliance". www.governor.ny.gov. June 1, 2017. Archived from the original on April 22, 2021. Retrieved August 1, 2017.
  20. ↑ Wilts, Alexandra (June 1, 2017). "Majority of Americans in every US state supports Paris climate deal Trump is poised to withdraw from". The Independent. Retrieved June 3, 2017.
  21. 1 2 "Gov. Malloy Adds Connecticut to Coalition of States Committed to Upholding the Paris Climate Agreement". Connecticut's Official State Website. June 2, 2017. Retrieved June 2, 2017.
  22. 1 2 Murphy, Matt (June 2, 2017). "Gov. Baker Enters Mass. Into Multi-State Climate Alliance After U.S. Withdraws From Paris Agreement". WBUR. Retrieved June 2, 2017.
  23. 1 2 "Vermont to Join US Climate Alliance". US News. June 2, 2017. Retrieved June 2, 2017.
  24. 1 2 "Rhode Island to Join States in Paris Climate Agreement Pact". US News. Associated Press. June 2, 2017. Retrieved June 2, 2017.
  25. 1 2 Jeff Mapes (June 2, 2017). "Oregon Will Join Climate Change Coalition To Meet Paris Goals". www.opb.org. Retrieved June 3, 2017.
  26. 1 2 "GOVERNOR'S OFFICE NEWS RELEASE: Governor joins U.S. Climate Alliance, will sign bill aligned with Paris agreement". governor.hawaii.gov. Retrieved June 3, 2017.
  27. 1 2 "Gov. McAuliffe announces Virginia's joining of U.S. Climate Alliance". whsv.com. Retrieved June 5, 2017.
  28. 1 2 3 4 "United States Climate Alliance adds 10 new members to coalition committed to upholding the Paris Accord". governor.wa.gov. Archived from the original on July 26, 2017. Retrieved June 5, 2017.
  29. 1 2 "Colorado signs on to U.S. Climate Alliance, joining states committed to exceeding Trump's rejected Paris climate targets". The Denver Post. July 11, 2017. Retrieved July 11, 2017.
  30. ↑ "Colorado commits to state climate action". Governor of Colorado. July 11, 2017. Archived from the original on August 1, 2017. Retrieved August 1, 2017.
  31. 1 2 "North Carolina Joins 14 States in Bipartisan U.S. Climate Alliance". Raleigh: Governor of North Carolina. September 20, 2017. Retrieved September 26, 2017.
  32. 1 2 "Maryland will join alliance of states supporting Paris climate agreement, Hogan says". The Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on May 25, 2019. Retrieved January 11, 2018.
  33. 1 2 Cerqueira, Julie (February 22, 2018). "New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy Joins U.S. Climate Alliance". U.S. Climate Alliance. Retrieved February 24, 2018.
  34. ↑ "Illinois Governor J. B. Pritzker Joins U.S. Climate Alliance". U.S. Climate Alliance. Retrieved January 24, 2019.
  35. ↑ "Illinois joins U.S. Climate Alliance". WEEK. January 23, 2019. Archived from the original on April 19, 2019. Retrieved January 24, 2019.
  36. 1 2 "New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham Joins U.S. Climate Alliance". U.S. Climate Alliance. Retrieved January 30, 2019.
  37. ↑ "Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer Joins U.S. Climate Alliance". U.S. Climate Alliance. February 4, 2019. Retrieved February 4, 2019.
  38. ↑ "Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers Joins U.S. Climate Alliance". U.S. Climate Alliance. Retrieved February 13, 2019.
  39. ↑ "Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak Joins U.S. Climate Alliance". US Climate Alliance. March 12, 2019. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  40. 1 2 "Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf Joins U.S. Climate Alliance". U.S. Climate Alliance. April 29, 2019. Retrieved April 30, 2019.
  41. ↑ "Montana Governor Steve Bullock Joins U.S. Climate Alliance". U.S. Climate Alliance. July 1, 2019. Retrieved August 11, 2019.
  42. 1 2 Mott, Nick (July 9, 2021). "Gianforte Withdraws Montana From Multi-State Climate Coalition". Montana Public Radio. Retrieved June 4, 2023.
  43. 1 2 Ben Paviour; Michael Pope (January 15, 2022). "Republican Glenn Youngkin is sworn in as the governor of Virginia". NPR. Retrieved November 11, 2024.
  44. 1 2 "Gov. Edwards Joins Bipartisan U.S. Climate Alliance, Commits to Addressing Climate Change at the State Level". Office of the Governor of Louisiana. May 7, 2021. Archived from the original on May 7, 2021.
  45. 1 2 "Lombardo withdraws Nevada from state-led greenhouse gas reduction coalition". The Nevada Independent. July 12, 2023. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
  46. ↑ "Governor Hobbs Commits to Climate Targets, Taking Critical First Step to Secure Stronger Future for Arizonans | Environmental Defense Fund". July 17, 2023.
  47. 1 2 Terry L. Jones (February 7, 2024). "When a climate change denier becomes governor: Jeff Landry's first month in office". Louisiana Illuminator. Retrieved November 11, 2024.
  48. ↑ Brice-Saddler, Michael (May 5, 2021). "In nod to statehood bid, Bowser admitted to Democratic Governors Association" . The Washington Post. Archived from the original on December 13, 2022. Retrieved March 27, 2024.
  49. ↑ "Secretariat Staff". U.S. Climate Alliance. Retrieved February 17, 2025.
  50. 1 2 "Table 5. Per capita energy-related carbon dioxide emissions by state (2000-2014)" (PDF). U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). January 2017.
  51. ↑ Briscoe, Tony. "Gov. J.B. Pritzker commits Illinois to climate change fight as study shows extreme weather convincing more people". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved January 24, 2019.
  52. ↑ "Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer Joins U.S. Climate Alliance". U.S. Climate Alliance. February 4, 2019. Retrieved February 4, 2019.
  53. ↑ "Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers Joins U.S. Climate Alliance". U.S. Climate Alliance. February 12, 2019. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  54. ↑ "Maine Governor Janet Mills Joins U.S. Climate Alliance". U.S. Climate Alliance. Retrieved March 1, 2019.
  55. ↑ "Arizona Joins the U.S. Climate Alliance" . Retrieved August 6, 2023.
  56. ↑ "Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak Joins U.S. Climate Alliance". U.S. Climate Alliance. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  57. ↑ "Montana Governor Steve Bullock Joins U.S. Climate Alliance". U.S. Climate Alliance. July 1, 2019. Retrieved July 1, 2019.
  58. ↑ "Am Samoa joins US Alliance on Climate Change". October 11, 2017. Archived from the original on January 17, 2022. Retrieved June 23, 2019.
  59. ↑ "Governors - U.S. Climate Alliance (17 Feb, 2018)". U.S. Climate Alliance. February 17, 2018. Archived from the original on February 17, 2018.
  60. ↑ "Governors - U.S. Climate Alliance (8 Dec, 2018)". U.S. Climate Alliance. December 8, 2018. Archived from the original on December 8, 2018.
  61. ↑ "Governors - U.S. Climate Alliance (16 Dec, 2019)". U.S. Climate Alliance. December 16, 2019. Archived from the original on December 16, 2019.
  62. ↑ "Governors - U.S. Climate Alliance (23 Dec, 2020)". U.S. Climate Alliance. December 23, 2020. Archived from the original on December 23, 2020.
  63. ↑ "Governors - U.S. Climate Alliance (22 Aug, 2021)". U.S. Climate Alliance. August 22, 2021. Archived from the original on August 22, 2021.
  64. ↑ "Governors - U.S. Climate Alliance (15 Dec, 2022)". U.S. Climate Alliance. December 15, 2022. Archived from the original on December 15, 2022.
  65. ↑ "Members - U.S. Climate Alliance (18 Dec, 2023)". U.S. Climate Alliance. December 18, 2023. Archived from the original on December 18, 2023.
  66. ↑ "Members - U.S. Climate Alliance (11 Nov, 2024)". U.S. Climate Alliance. November 11, 2024. Archived from the original on November 11, 2024.
  67. ↑ "2017 Annual Report: Alliance States Take the Lead". U.S. Climate Alliance. September 15, 2017. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 2, 2024.
  68. ↑ "2018 Annual Report: Fighting for Our Future". U.S. Climate Alliance. September 11, 2018. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 4, 2024.
  69. ↑ "2019 Annual Report: Strength in Numbers". U.S. Climate Alliance. December 14, 2019. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 2, 2024.
  70. ↑ "2020 Annual Report: Leading the Charge". U.S. Climate Alliance. September 24, 2020. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 4, 2024.
  71. ↑ "2021 Annual Report: Further. Faster. Together". U.S. Climate Alliance. February 16, 2022. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 30, 2023.
  72. ↑ "2022 Annual Report: Full Speed Ahead". U.S. Climate Alliance. September 15, 2022. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 17, 2024.
  73. ↑ "2023 Annual Report: All Hands on Deck". U.S. Climate Alliance. December 1, 2023. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 29, 2024.
  74. ↑ "2024 Annual Report: No Turning Back". U.S. Climate Alliance. October 10, 2024. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 11, 2024.
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