June 22, 2017

Dems ramp up post-Paris messaging, action plans, via E&E News

In the wake of President Trump's announcement that he would pull the U.S. out of the global Paris Climate Agreement, it is, more than ever, up to state and local leaders to address the devastating impact of climate change and keep the country on track to meeting our promises to the world. New Democrat Coalition Leadership Member Scott Peters (CA-52), a former environmental attorney and leader on this issue in both local government and the U.S. House of Representatives, and Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton, a NewDEAL Leader who chairs the U.S. Conference of Mayors Environment Committee, discuss ways forward for state and local government as well as opportunities for cities and states to work together.

Read more about the call and their work here or below:

Dems ramp up postParis messaging, action plans
Hannah Hess, E&E News reporter
Published: Thursday, June 22, 2017

Democrats are on a messaging blitz today, highlighting the response at the federal, state and local level to President Trump's bombshell announcement about U.S. withdrawal from the Paris Agreement.

The NewDEAL, a national network of progressive state and local leaders, and the New Democrat Coalition, which includes 61 members of Congress, will host a call this morning on how they can be most effective and involved in climate action moving forward.

Rep. Scott Peters (DCalif.) will talk about the view from Washington, D.C. Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton, who chairs the U.S. Conference of Mayors' Environment Committee, will speak about efforts by cities.

As of yesterday, 100 mayors have pledged to promote renewable energy in their cities in coordination with the Mayors for 100% Clean Energy initiative (Greenwire, April 26). Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney is the latest to pledge his support.

"Since the White House has opted to step away from its obligations to this issue, all cities — including Philadelphia — must step up," Kenney said yesterday.

The call comes ahead of the annual U.S. Conference of Mayors meeting at the end of the month. City leaders will convene in Miami Beach, Fla., with climate leadership among the items on their agenda.

This afternoon, Democrats will roll out new legislation aimed at boosting job growth in the clean energy sector.

Two lawmakers from Connecticut — Rep. Elizabeth Esty and Sen. Chris Murphy — join Sen. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland and Rep. Paul Tonko of New York to preview new bicameral legislation on a press call with officials from the Connecticut Green Bank, the Natural Resources Defense Council's Center for Market Innovation, the Coalition for Green Capital and a Connecticutbased sustainable packaging company called Curtis Packaging Corp.

Separately, Rep. Ted Lieu (DCalif.) reintroduced his "Climate Solutions Act" this week. The bill, H.R. 2958, expresses the sense of Congress that the U.S. should uphold its pledge to cut greenhouse gas emissions under the Paris framework.

Lieu's bill would also expand California's capandtrade program to the rest of the United States. It would require the U.S. to achieve a 40 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2035 and 80 percent by 2050, both based on 1990 levels, with U.S. EPA handed the authority to develop and enforce emissions
targets.

Additionally, the bill would set a 33 percent renewable portfolio standard by 2025 and direct the Department of Energy to issue energy efficiency regulations. The legislation currently has nine cosponsors, all Democrats.

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