By IAN HANCOCK, USGBC State & Local Policy Specialist
On Jan. 20, President Donald Trump announced the United States would withdraw from participation in the Paris Climate Agreement under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) for a second time.
The U.S. first exited the agreement in 2017 under the first Trump administration, formally withdrawing in late 2019.
On the announcement of the administration's intent to leave the Paris Agreement in 2017, a coalition of three states—California, New York and Washington—announced the formation of the U.S. Climate Alliance. The alliance aims to achieve the U.S. goals of reducing emissions by 26 to 28% from 2005 levels and to be a forum to sustain, promote and strengthen existing climate programs in the member states.
Growth and impact of the climate alliance
Since the alliance’s inception, the organization has grown into a bipartisan coalition of 24 states and territories: Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Guam, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin. These states and territories represent approximately 55% of the U.S. population and 60% of the U.S. gross domestic product (GDP).
In response to the administration’s decision to once again withdraw the U.S. from the Paris Agreement, the U.S. Climate Alliance published a letter on Jan. 20 addressed to UNFCCC Executive Sectary Simon Stiell, making it clear that the organization will “continue America’s work to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement and slash climate pollution.”
The letter affirms that states and territories hold substantial power under the U.S. Constitution to advance and implement climate initiatives. It also notes that the alliance members are on course to meet their immediate climate target of cutting collective greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 26% from 2005 levels by 2025. The members intend to continue the alliance's established pattern of reducing emissions while simultaneously enhancing their economies, pledging to lower GHG emissions by 50 to 52% by 2030 and by 61 to 66% by 2035, compared to 2005 levels, as outlined in the U.S. Nationally Determined Contribution under the Paris Agreement.
The coalition asserts that the change in the federal administration will not prevent the alliance states from implementing policies and programs to achieve a net zero future. These initiatives include statewide and regional carbon markets; 100% clean energy standards; methane reduction programs for oil and gas, waste, and agricultural sectors; and deploying billions of dollars to sustain America's clean energy boom.
Decarbonization initiatives in the building sector
The alliance understands that the building sector accounts for more than 30% of U.S. GHG emissions and emphasizes that decarbonization through energy efficiency and electrification is essential to achieving states' climate targets. These states are leaders in green building. Of the Top 10 States for LEED in 2024, seven are members of the alliance.
To advance building decarbonization efforts, alliance members have committed to proactive planning for a zero emissions building future by ensuring that new construction supports long-term decarbonization goals through zero emission building codes and standards.
To advance these efforts, alliance members have made specific commitments.
- Ten members (California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Maryland, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Washington) are exploring adopting zero emissions standards for space water-heating equipment;
- Eight members (California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Maine, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island) will focus on implementing building performance standards modeled after those in Colorado, Maryland, Oregon, and Washington;
- Twelve members (California, Colorado, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Washington) commit to supporting advanced energy-efficient building codes that maximize efficient electrification and solar development.
USGBC programs engage the private sector in sustainable building and elevate strategies, helping to set the stage for policy adoption.
Plans for engagement at COP 30 and future climate initiatives
The international community must understand that the U.S. will continue to act on climate change regardless of actions taken by the federal government. The alliance states it is “committed to tracking and reporting on our progress and look[s] forward to working with [UNFCCC] and the global community to identify the most impactful ways to do so” and will submit annual reports to UNFCCC on the latest actions taken by its members.
The alliance and its governors will participate in COP 30 in Brazil later this year. It will work with other subnational climate organizations—including America Is All In, an organization of government and civil society leaders, of which USGBC is also a member, and Climate Mayors, a bipartisan coalition of over 300 mayors—to continue advancing emissions reductions and climate change mitigation.