Under2 Coalition Governors and Mayors issue statement on US withdrawal from Paris Agreement | Climate Group Skip to main content

Under2 Coalition Governors and Mayors issue statement on US withdrawal from Paris Agreement

1 June 2017, 20:35 UTC 2 min read

NEW YORK: The Governors of California, New York, Oregon, and Washington, and Mayors of Austin, Los Angeles, New York City, Oakland, Portland, Sacramento, San Francisco and Seattle, issued the following statement on behalf of the Under2 Coalition in response to the recent decision to withdraw the US from the Paris Agreement.

“As United States governors and mayors, we oppose today’s decision to withdraw the US from the Paris Agreement. The US cannot address climate change on its own. Participation in the Paris Agreement, which includes nearly every country, ensures that the efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions already underway across America’s states and cities are part of a larger global effort. Withdrawal only undermines our efforts.

As members of the Under2 Coalition - a global pact of 170 jurisdictions in over 30 countries committed to limiting global average temperature increase to well below 2 degrees Celsius – we know that international cooperation on climate change works. We remain as committed as ever to working with our partners around the world to implement the Paris Agreement and achieve our shared goals. And we will continue to enlist like-minded cities, states, regions and countries to join in this fight.”

The Under2 Coalition is a global pact of 170 cities, states and countries representing more than one billion people and US$27.5 trillion in combined GDP – more than one-third of the global economy. Coalition members commit to limit greenhouse gas emissions to two tons per capita or 80-95% below 1990 levels by 2050. The Under2 MOU was formed in 2015 by the states of California and Baden-Württemberg, Germany, to mobilize and galvanize bold climate action from like-minded city, state and regional governments around the globe

The Climate Group acts as Secretariat to the Under2 Coalition and works directly with government signatories and partners of the Under2 MOU to drive net-zero ambition and action.

 

For further information, please contact:

Nazneen Nawaz, Head of International Communications, The Climate Group

[email protected] / 020 7960 2716

 

Notes to editors

About The Climate Group

The Climate Group works internationally with leading businesses, states and regions to deliver a world of net zero greenhouse gas emissions and greater prosperity for all. We are at the forefront of ambitious climate action. Our focus is on collaborative programs with corporate and government partners that deliver impact on a global scale. The Climate Group stimulates action by businesses, states and regions, bringing them together to develop and implement the policies that make change happen. We also communicate their achievements to secure global public acceptance of, and even greater ambition for, a prosperous, net-zero future for all. The Climate Group is an international non-profit with offices in Beijing, London, New Delhi and New York.

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