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More than half of the US population live in states signed up to the US Climate Alliance. It's a group of states committed to meeting the goals of the Paris Climate Accord. It was set up after President Donald Trump decided to withdraw the US from that international agreement.
Since last year's congressional elections, three new states have joined the alliance
Harry Horton looks at how much difference these states can actually make.
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Large wildfires and powerful hurricanes could be happening more often in the US because of climate change, scientists say.
President Donald Trump's administration continues to roll back environmental regulations. But at a local level, some US states are charting their own course.
Twenty states have signed up to the US Climate Alliance. they account for a third of US greenhouse gas emissions and half of its economy. There's only so much they can do - but JULIE CERQUEIRA, the executive director of the alliance, says they hope to make a difference.
<<TAKE SOT: JULIE CERQUEIRA, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, US CLIMATE ALLIANCE>>
"When you have a number of states that adopt substantially similar policies, regulations, measures, incentives - you have the ability to really have a transformational impact on the United States and so let's say that you have energy efficiency standards that are put in place for products. You have such a large share of the market that you actually have the ability to work with manufacturers to get them to manufacture to that standard for the entire country not just for those states."
"President Trump has made it clear climate change is not a priority for his administration, and in some cases he's even dismissed the science outright. But the states signed up to the climate alliance say time is running out."
The state of Maryland is already dealing with the effects of coastal flooding and scientists say the problem will only get worse. The state plans to drastically cut car emissions and increase the use of renewable energy.
BEN GRUMBLES, MARYLAND ENVIRONMENT SECRETARY, says One early sign of success for the alliance has been the willingness of other countries to engage with individual US states.
<<TAKE SOT: BEN GRUMBLES, MARYLAND ENVIRONMENT SECRETARY>>
"They definitely see that at the federal government level, particularly the White House, that there is a lack of real progress. But they also see that there are states and businesses and communities throughout the US that recognise the importance of climate action and climate progress. And many of the countries that we visit with are very interested to learn the particulars of what some of our states are doing."
The goals of the Paris climate agreement are tough - and without the help of the federal government some states are in danger of missing their targets.
But parts of the US have made tackling climate change a priority – in defiance of the president.
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Harry Horton
@harry_horton
Cell: +1 202 413 7961
@harry_horton
Cell: +1 202 413 7961
Office: +1 202 296 9012
Feature Story News
1730 Rhode Island Avenue NW, Suite 405
Washington, DC 20036 USA
Feature Story News
1730 Rhode Island Avenue NW, Suite 405
Washington, DC 20036 USA
