PARIS -- Two Sierra Club leaders will visit Paris and London next week to send a clear message: the Club is doubling down on its commitment to a coal-free America by 2030, increasingly powered by clean energy. The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization -- with more than three million members and supporters
Far from backing down in the wake of President Trump's choice to withdraw from the Paris Agreement, the trip to Europe represents a redoubled commitment to transition the world's energy from coal to clean, renewable energy. Bruce Nilles and Mary Anne Hitt are leaders of the Sierra Club's Beyond Coal Campaign.
"The Sierra Club and allies are more committed than ever to replacing the public health and environmental disaster that is dirty coal with clean, renewable energy," said Bruce Nilles, Senior Campaign Director of the Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal Campaign, who will be visiting London. "Despite the shortsighted decision to withdraw from the Paris Agreement, we will meet those Paris commitments and, in fact, go far beyond them."
Since Donald Trump took office, grassroots Sierra Club leaders and their allies have helped retire 8 coal plants across 6 states, including the the massive 2400MW Stuart coal plant in Ohio. Also since January, utility Xcel Energy announced the largest single clean energy investment in US history -- $4 billion worth of new wind energy across 8 states.
Additionally, more than 30 cities have committed to 100 percent clean energy, with over 90 mayors across America vowing to work toward transitioning to 100 percent clean, renewable power.At least 12 cities have committed to 100% clean energy since Donald Trump was inaugurated, including big cities like Atlanta and Portland
"The true leadership on climate and clean energy is coming from the grassroots," said Mary Anne Hitt, Director of the Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal Campaign, who will be visiting Paris. "Local communities, states, cities, and business leaders will ensure continued climate progress at home and abroad. This trip will strengthen our ongoing commitment to working together with our allies, at home and everywhere in the world."
Hitt and Nilles will attend screenings and panel discussions surrounding the new documentary film, From the Ashes, produced by RadicalMedia in partnership with Bloomberg Philanthropies. The film, which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival, showcases the consequences of relying on dirty coal across America and the critical need to help affected workers and communities transition to a cleaner, healthier and fairer future.
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About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3 million members and supporters. In addition to helping people from all backgrounds explore nature and our outdoor heritage, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.