Governor Newsom Announced As Co-Chair Of U.S. Climate Alliance, Underscoring California’s Continued Climate Leadership

SACRAMENTO — Governor Gavin Newsom, alongside Governor Tony Evers of Wisconsin, was just announced as a new co-chair of the U.S. Climate Alliance — a bipartisan coalition of states representing approximately 60 percent of the U.S. economy and 55 percent of the U.S. population committed to implementing policies that advance the goals of the Paris agreement.

“California is standing strong in its commitment to follow the science and build healthier, resilient communities — even as the state's authority is under threat in Washington, D.C.,” said Katelyn Roedner Sutter, California State Director at EDF. “Governor Newsom is an excellent choice for this position because he has ensured the urgency and ambition behind California’s climate policies are based on the latest science. This is precisely the kind of leadership we need now from states to preserve a safe and stable climate for future generations. 

“Governor Newsom has ensured California makes sustained progress in cutting pollution across major sectors — including transportation, electricity, and industry — while advancing smart, commonsense policies to reduce harmful pollutants such as methane. Under his leadership, California has continued meaningful collaboration with the province of Québec under North America’s longest-running carbon market — the cap-and-trade program. It is California’s most cost-effective climate policy, targeting the biggest polluters to reduce their emissions contributing to climate change while generating revenue to reinvest in communities and households.”

This legislative session, California is looking to extend its cap-and-trade program so it continues helping the state meet its commitment to build a 100 percent clean energy economy while delivering affordability benefits to families. A recent EDF analysis found that, by extending the program through 2045, the state will deliver immense benefits to its residents, including:

• $700 in benefits and savings for families earning $70,000 or less — almost half of the state.

• 287,000 jobs created — primarily in construction, agriculture and forestry, local transit, architecture, and engineering — with an average salary of $93,600

• $55 billion in total economic growth across all 58 counties