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Governor Inslee signed a measure that makes his state the fourth in the nation that has established a mandate to provide carbon-free electricity by a targeted date.
We are living through an unprecedented climate crisis.
Climate change is already affecting the smallest corners and largest cities across the globe. And it is going to get worse unless immediate and coordinated action is taken.
Despite all this, the Trump administration has failed to look out for the interests of Americans by abdicating its responsibilities to lead and meet the goals of the Paris Agreement.
All current climate leadership is happening in the states. Statewide action is the only way that the U.S. can make any progress in the fight against climate change.
In Washington and many other states, we are using innovation and cooperation to grow jobs and protect the planet.
As Washington’s governor, I know firsthand the obstacles states face when they respond to increasingly devastating floods, wildfires, and earthquakes, and other catastrophes made worse by a changing climate.
When the Trump administration indicated its intention to withdraw from the Paris Agreement—one that every other country on earth is participating in—I joined Governor Andrew Cuomo and former Governor Jerry Brown to form the U.S. Climate Alliance. Two years later, the Climate Alliance is 25 governors strong and represents close to 60 percent of the U.S. population.
This bipartisan group of governors is setting ambitious state goals, backed by science and research, to build sustainable, low-carbon economies across the country.
All USCA states commit to achieving Paris targets by 2028, work in collaboration, and advocate for federal action.
USCA states collaborate on a variety of shared priorities, including phasing out short-lived super pollutants (HFCs), accelerating the uptake of clean-transportation technologies, increasing carbon sequestration on working lands, adopting common energy efficiency standards for a wide range of appliances and commercial equipment, and expanding access to clean-energy finance.
In my state, we are showing that clean energy is an economic catalyst. It is possible to grow jobs and protect the environment at the same time.
Earlier this year, I signed into law the most aggressive package of clean-energy legislation in Washington state history. It includes provisions that eliminate fossil fuels from our electricity system, phase down climate super pollutants, and adapt a number of efficiency standards that will reduce building emissions while lowering energy bills.
We’ve also started our transition to clean transportation. We recently secured $140 million in funding for hybrid-electric ferry building and conversions. And we’re building infrastructure to support the move to electric vehicles.
In September, we reached our 2020 goal of putting 50,000 electric vehicles on our roads. We are also purchasing electricity from wind and solar projects built around Washington.
Washington has a Clean Energy Fund program; through it we have invested more than $120 million in research and development to create utility-scale battery technology. This will bring renewable energy onto our grid and expand energy services to low-income communities.
While this crucial work is happening in Washington and many other states, the Trump administration continues to roll back environmental protections nationwide and even try to prevent states from working toward cleaner air, water, and transportation.
Let me be clear: The Trump administration cannot stop the states on about 80 percent of what we are trying to do around climate change. And the other 20 percent we address through litigation. The federal government is not able to stop the states from taking action.
Fighting climate change and protecting our children and grandchildren from its ravages is a monumental task. But it is not insurmountable.
Leadership may be lacking in the U.S. federal government, but when the world thinks of the U.S. on climate action, they should think of the states.
