Governor Cooper announced today that North Carolina will join the U.S. Climate Alliance, a bipartisan coalition of states that have committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions consistent with the goals of the Paris Agreement.
The Climate Alliance was created in response to the Trump administration's decision to withdraw the U.S. from the Paris Agreement on climate change. North Carolina joins 13 other states - including coastal neighbor Virginia - and Puerto Rico in the coalition.
The Alliance also released a new report today that said its members are collectively on track to meet and possibly exceed their portion of the U.S. commitment to the Paris Agreement.
This is not the first time Cooper has challenged the Trump administration on matters of environmental protection. In July, Cooper announced his formal opposition to oil and gas drilling off the North Carolina coastline, following up with statements to federal regulators to oppose offshore drilling and seismic testing for oil and gas reserves.
Other North Carolina elected officials are similarly showing leadership in their communities. Six North Carolina mayors have endorsed a goal of powering their communities entirely with renewable energy.. Hillsborough recently became the first town in North Carolina and 43rd in the United States to commit to transitioning to 100 percent clean and renewable energy. Other North Carolina communities, including Boone and Asheville, have passed resolutions calling for a national transition to 100 percent clean and renewable energy by 2050.
In response to today’s announcement, N.C. State Director Molly Diggins issued the following statement:
“We commend Governor Cooper for joining other governors in taking action to provide for public safety and economic stability in the face of increased flooding and other impacts of climate change. North Carolina is especially vulnerable to the sort of record-setting hurricanes and other catastrophic weather-related events we currently are experiencing across the country.
“In the face of inaction - or worse, harmful action - from Washington, citizens must increasingly rely on governors like Roy Cooper to provide leadership.
“Between the leadership shown by our governor and a growing number of our mayors, North Carolina continues to be proof positive that the transition to clean energy is also a transition to strong economic growth.”