United States Climate Alliance reaffirms climate action in U.S.

This announcement comes in response to the United States' decision to withdraw from the international climate accord, marking the second such withdrawal in recent years.

In a letter addressed to the United Nations Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell, Alliance Co-Chairs New York Governor Kathy Hochul and New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham emphasized the coalition’s resolve to meet the Paris Agreement goals. The letter states, “Our states and territories continue to...advance the climate solutions we need...it’s critical for the international community to know that climate action will continue in the U.S.” The letter highlights that the Alliance has consistently brought this message to international forums such as the UN Climate Change Conferences (COP), with plans to continue doing so at COP30 in Brazil in 2025.

Achieving climate goals despite withdrawal from the Paris Agreement

The United States has made measurable progress in its climate goals, reducing collective net greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 19% from 2005 to 2022 while achieving a 30% increase in collective GDP. This underscores that economic growth and emissions reduction are not mutually exclusive. The U.S. is on track to meet the Climate Alliance’s interim target of reducing emissions by 26% by 2025 and has committed to further reductions of 50-52% by 2030 and 61-66% by 2035, all based on 2005 levels.

Key strategies contributing to this progress include:

• Statewide and regional carbon markets: Establishing mechanisms to trade emissions allowances to encourage reductions.
• Clean energy standards: Mandating transitions to renewable energy sources across multiple states.
• Methane reduction programs: Targeting emissions from oil and gas operations, agriculture, and waste sectors.
• Infrastructure investment: Deploying billions of dollars into renewable energy capacity, pollution mitigation, and community resilience programs.

These efforts are part of a broader decarbonization movement within the U.S. By leveraging their constitutional authority, states in the Alliance have the capacity to implement robust climate solutions.

A model for subnational climate leadership

The Alliance states not only contribute significantly to U.S. emissions reduction targets but also serve as a model for other regions worldwide. Their approach integrates ambitious emissions reduction with economic and workforce growth. For example, member states have increased employment in the clean energy sector and reduced harmful air pollutants, benefiting public health and economic development.

Supporting action through data and tools

The progress of the U.S. Climate Alliance highlights the importance of data-driven strategies in achieving climate goals. One Click LCA, the leading end-to-end sustainability platform for construction and manufacturing, supports this effort by enabling stakeholders in construction and manufacturing to calculate and mitigate embodied carbon emissions. One Click LCA provides access to the world’s largest LCA database and automated reporting tools, aligns with state and international requirements, and empowers industries to contribute effectively to emissions reduction​​.