Gov. Pritzker repeals Illinois’ Kyoto Protocol Act, opening the door for clean energy legislation

(SPRINGFIELD, IL) Gov. J.B. Pritzker today signed into law House Bill 3481, legislation that repeals Illinois’ Kyoto Protocol Act of 1998, which prohibited Illinois from taking steps to reduce carbon and other greenhouse gas emissions unless the Kyoto Protocol Treaty was ratified by the United States Senate. The Kyoto Protocol Treaty, negotiated as an expansion of United Nations Framework Convention on Global Climate Change in 1997, has never been ratified by the United States Senate.

“By repealing this act, Gov. Pritzker and lawmakers are empowering the people of Illinois to build a cleaner, healthier future. Illinois can now take real climate action by passing the Clean Energy Jobs Act (CEJA), which will clean up the state’s power and transportation sectors, while creating jobs, economic opportunity and billions of dollars in new private capital for the state. We urge Gov. Pritzker and lawmakers to build on this momentum by passing CEJA during the upcoming fall veto session.”