Local governments are banding together to fight climate change following President Donald Trump’s announcement last week the United States would withdraw from the Paris climate agreement, The Hill reports.
At least a dozen states and hundreds of municipalities have announced plans to work with foreign governments to reduce emissions and limit global warming as originally planned by 195 nations which signed the Paris agreement in December 2015.
"It's the silver lining from what happened last week. It's really encouraging, and it may be that, ironically, the decision to vacate Paris energizes the pro-climate movement," Democratic Sen. Brian Schatz of Hawaii told The Hill.
"I don't think it's a substitute for international policy. But to get more renewable energy online is mostly a local decision. It's made by public utility commissions, it's made by governors and mayors and utility companies, and so, the fight goes local."
Hawaii last Tuesday became the first U.S. state to commit to the Paris Climate accords when Gov. David Ige signed Senate Bill 559 which would "ensure statewide support for Hawaii's green initiatives and to further the State's commitment to combat climate change by systematically reducing and mitigating greenhouse gas emissions through the enactment of principles that mirror many of the provisions adopted in the Paris Agreement."
House Bill 1578, which creates a task force to help keep Hawaii's soil and air clean, was also signed by the governor.
California has also been at the forefront.
Gov. Jerry Brown signed a climate agreement with China last week and told the Associated Press that China, European countries and U.S. state governors would fill the gap.
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