12 July 2017: Over the past few days, US federal states and other US and international non-state actors announced a number of climate initiatives that aim to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in line with the Paris Agreement on climate change, and for an accelerated transition to 100% renewables.

California’s Governor Jerry Brown and Michael Bloomberg launched the ‘America’s Pledge’ initiative to compile and quantify the actions of federal states, cities and businesses in the US to reduce their GHG emissions in line with the goals of the Paris Agreement. America’s Pledge joins subnational climate collaborations, including the ‘We Are Still In’ declaration, the ‘Climate Mayors’ coalition of cities and the ‘US Climate Alliance’ group of states, set up since President Donald Trump’s announcement of the US’ withdrawal from the Paris Agreement. [America’s Pledge Press Release] [We Are Still In] [Climate Mayors on Twitter] [New York State Press Release Announcing US Climate Alliance] [SDG Knowledge Hub Story on US Federal States, Cities Committing to Upholding Paris Agreement] [SDG Knowledge Hub Story on US Withdrawal from Paris Agreement Mobilizing Governments, Stakeholders] [Decision 1/CP.21 Adopting Paris Agreement]

California announced legislation launching a programme to measure and combat air pollution at the neighborhood level, and improving and extending the state’s cap-and-trade programme by ten years. [California Assembly Bill 617] [California Assembly Bill 398] [Office of Governor Press Release]

Colorado’s Governor John Hickenlooper signed an executive order committing the state to climate goals, including to: reduce statewide GHG emissions by more than 26% from 2005 levels by 2025; reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from the electricity sector by 25% by 2025 and by 35% by 2030 from 2012 levels; and achieve electricity savings of 2% of total electricity sales per year by 2020. He also announced that Colorado will join the US Climate Alliance. [Colorado Governor Executive Order] [Colorado Governor Press Release]

The Climate Group’s RE100 initiative, working to accelerate its member companies’ transition to 100% renewables, reached its 100 members milestone. UNFCCC Executive Secretary Patricia Espinosa commended the initiative, describing it as “part of an alliance of inspiring actions flourishing across the globe.” [RE100 Press Release] [RE100 Announcement of Reaching 100 Members] [RE100 Website]