All but Washington are on board for climate action
Leaders across the U.S. publicly committing to implementing goals of the Paris Agreement
The newly ended year provided more evidence that we are changing our planet in dangerous ways. In September, top U.S. scientists confirmed that human activities, such as burning coal, oil and gas, are responsible for the global warming we are experiencing. The United States was 2.6 degrees warmer than normal in 2017. Supercharged by the warming climate, western wildfires destroyed communities and millions of acres of forest, while Hurricane Harvey devastated the Texas coast.
Though the president announced the United States would withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement, much of America said, “Not so fast.” In many cities and states, the political climate shifted as state and local governments stepped up action. Fifteen governors and 2,500 leaders of cities, counties, corporations and universities — representing more than half of the U.S. economy and population — committed to the Paris Climate Agreement.
In the Northeast, five Republican and four Democratic governors finalized new rules to strengthen the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, making polluters pay and expanding the use of clean energy. California re-authorized its landmark climate protection law, and with bipartisan support. While it was the poor economics of coal and not climate leadership that led to their decision, in another win for the climate, Texas’ largest electric generator Luminant announced plans to shut down three of the state’s dirtiest coal burning power plants early this year.
Cities and counties took concrete action as well. Mayor Sylvester Turner, co-chair of a group of mayors backing the Paris Agreement, proclaimed that “as the energy capital of the world, it’s our responsibility to find sustainable ways to power the future. By investing in green power, improving building efficiency, and revitalizing our green spaces, Houston is proof that large industrial cities can act on climate and maintain a robust, growing economy.”
Houston acted on these words earlier this year when the City Council expanded investment in a west Texas solar farm helping power the municipal government. Montgomery County, Md., a D.C. suburb, passed one of the most aggressive pollution reduction targets in the country, and more than 50 cities — including Atlanta, Salt Lake City and St. Louis — have committed to generating 100 percent of their energy from clean sources by 2050. This month, the
Austin City Council approved buying electricity from a new solar farm in a deal that may be the cheapest of its kind in the United States. Twelve cities, including Los Angeles, London and Paris, committed to buy only electric buses as of 2025.
Corporations and universities implemented bold plans in 2017. Google now powers its entire operation with 100 percent renewable energy, and more than 100 corporations have committed to the same goal. Cornell University, Boston University and Colorado State all committed to transitioning entirely to clean energy, joining Southwestern and the University of North Texas, which are already at 100 percent. Soon after 62 percent of its shareholders voted in May for a resolution calling for greater disclosure of the risks of climate change, Exxon announced plans to reduce emissions of methane, a potent greenhouse gas, from its oil and gas operations. Seven other oil companies have since joined Exxon in this pledge.
The Trump administration is doing its best to pour gasoline on the fires of climate change by reversing prior administrations’ actions. But state, local and corporate initiatives to slow climate change are showing the world that the United States wants to be part of the solution. We’ve got our work cut out for us, because we don’t have the luxury of time.
Here in Texas, we’ve got opportunities this year to do our part. Houston can choose electric when it buys new garbage trucks and buses with help from a new state fund established in a settlement with Volkswagen over its diesel emissions scandal. The University of Texas at Austin, this state’s flagship university, should follow Exxon’s lead and reduce its climate impact by cutting dangerous methane emissions from oil and gas operations on its West Texas lands. And, as we rebuild post-Harvey, we can work to make our communities more resilient by building with green infrastructure.
Despite the progress we’ve made, the United States still needs to step up the pace on climate action. As citizens, we need to thank the leaders who have already acted, and call on all those who haven’t, in every city and every state, to get a move on. Metzger is the executive director of Environment Texas, a statewide advocate for clean air, clean water and open spaces. www. EnvironmentTexas.org