SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - Today the Under2 Coalition General Assembly will take place in San Francisco, California – marking the biggest ever meeting of subnational governments on climate change.
With 72 governments in attendance, governors, premiers and ministers will meet to agree collective climate action for the next 12 months in a UN style conference for state and regional governments.
Sixteen new jurisdictions will join the coalition today by signing an agreement to limit emissions to under 2 tonnes per capita to keep global temperature rises to under 2°C, in line with climate science.
Today’s new signatories and endorsers include Chungnam, South Korea; North Kalimantan, Indonesia; West Bengal, India; Akershus, Norway; Madre de Dios, Peru; Nariño, Colombia; Oaxaca, Mexico; Sonora, Mexico; Tucumán, Argentina; Baja California Sur, Mexico; Piura, Peru; Broward County, United States; Hawaii, United States; Papua Indonesia, Japan, Association of Cities of County Rank, Hungary.
With the endorsement of Japan, which has recently experienced a summer of climate related stress including the worst typhoon in 25 years, the coalition now includes 222 governments – representing over 43% of the global economy $34 trillion in GDP and 1.3 billion people.
Earlier this month the Under2 Coalition was recognized as the international cooperative initiative with highest potential for emissions reduction[1]. Through the Under2 Coalition, signatories have collectively committed to remove between 4.9-5.2 Gigatons of C02 equivalent emissions per year by 2030 – which is more than current annual emissions of the European Union.
Tim Ash Vie, Under2 Coalition Director, The Climate Group, said: “Global states and regions are stepping up their action and commitments at this week’s Summit. It is fitting that the largest global gathering of states and regions on climate is happening in California. These governments are increasingly going to be at the forefront of achieving the Paris agreement over the next three decades.”
California, along with Baden Württemberg was one of the founding states of the Under2 Coalition in 2015, spearheading a new level of global cooperation between states and regions on climate change and providing inspiring leadership.
Current Co-chair Governor Jerry Brown of California will pass the baton to Jay Inslee, Governor of Washington state. The following leaders will also take on Co-chair positions to lead the Under2 Coalition over the next two years: Premier of KwaZulu-Natal, Willies Mchunu, Minister-President Winfried Kretschmann of Baden-Württemberg and Governor Roberto Miguel Lifschitz of Santa Fe.
“This gathering of regional leaders and the addition of even more members to the Under2 Coalition shows a vibrant and growing global commitment,” said Governor Brown. “We’re not slowing down.”
In addition to today’s new signatories to the coalition, further funding for the coalition has been announced today. Norway’s International Climate and Forests Initiative (NICFI) has granted The Climate Group 49.7m Norwegian Krone ($5.9m USD). This will support governments in emerging economy regions to track emissions and plan pathways to achieve their climate goals. The aim is also to inspire similar action from other Under2 Coalition jurisdictions.
Ola Elvestuen, Norway's Minister of Climate and Environment, said: “There is no viable solution to climate change without improving the way we use forests, food and land. I am very pleased that Norway is teaming up with a very competent and ambitious partner – to work together on enhancing the way we understand, measure and act on our forest, food and land challenges.”
With this support, and a recent announcement of German government backing for emissions accounting, the Under2 Coalition is ramping up the level of international state to state cooperation and support.
[1] Data Driven Yale, NewClimate Institute, PBL 2018: Global climate action of regions, states and businesses.
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