A minimum of half a dozen governors from each state -- all Democrats -- will attend parts the two-week-long United Nations climate change conference in Glasgow. This conference is known as COP26. Although states aren’t officially parties to the talks, governors have significant influence over the United States’ approach to climate change. They set targets to reduce carbon emissions and transition to renewable energy.
California is the example. Gavin Newsom pledged to stop the sale of new gas-powered vehicles in California by 2035. This move is aimed at speeding up the country's transition towards electric cars. Or Washington, Washington's Democratic Governor. Jay Inslee supported legislation that required the state's electricity to be carbon-neutral by 2030.
Samantha Gross, director at the Brookings Institute's Energy Security and Climate Initiative, said that "Governors can accomplish a lot." They can accomplish a lot if they are talking to others on the sidelines, sharing ideas and policies, and helping to show the U.S. commitment as a whole.
Inslee and the Governor of New Mexico are scheduled to attend. Michelle Lujan Grisham, Hawaii Gov. David Ige, Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, Oregon Gov. Kate Brown. All six governors are members of the U.S. Climate Alliance, an initiative started by Inslee as well as former Govs. In 2017, the Trump administration pulled out of U.S. climate goals by naming Jerry Brown in California and Andrew Cuomo in New York. Although it has not shared details, the alliance plans to announce "ambitious new climate commitments" in Scotland.
Friday's announcement by Newsom was that he would be participating virtually because of unspecified family obligations. California Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis, instead, will lead the delegation of California which includes more than 12 lawmakers and top officials in government.
"All eyes will be focused on Glasgow with the world asking: 'What are you doing about (climate change )?'" Kounalakis). California has the answers.
Maryland and Massachusetts are also sending officials, both of which have Republican governors.
California is one of the most influential U.S. states. It has nearly 40 million residents and would be the fifth-largest country in the world if it was its own nation. It has led the nation in vehicle emission standards and was the first to establish a carbon pollution credit program called cap-and trade.
Although it is the seventh largest oil producer state in the country, Newsom officials claim that the state has six-times as many jobs in clean electricity than in the oil industry. Although Newsom has taken steps to reduce demand and end production, some environmental groups feel he needs to move much faster.
Many other state leaders who are heading to Glasgow come from countries that depend on oil and gas production as a major part of their economies. Lujan Grisham from New Mexico travels to the climate conference as she manages competing pressures from environmentalists and the fossil fuel industry while trying to win reelection.
New Mexico is a top oil state. Lujan Grisham, despite a rising oil production, has worked to reduce leakage and emissions of excess natural gases by the industry. He also signed legislation that incentivizes New Mexico to transition to zero-emissions electricity in 2045.
"We, as a country, as well as as a planet, must do more to pursue bold, fair and just climate solutions. "I am looking forward this significant opportunity for collaboration, and action at global level," Lujan Grisham stated in a recent statement.
Lujan Grisham asked President Joe Biden to exempt New Mexico form an executive order that would have stopped oil and gas production on federal land in March. More than one quarter of the state's general funds budget is made up of oil field royalties, taxes, and lease sales. These revenues underwrite spending on public schools and roads.
Edwards of Louisiana is a man who plans to make Louisiana a center for clean energy projects. Louisiana has suffered from significant flooding and hurricane damage. His administration is still working on a strategy document to achieve that goal. However, he has set a goal for Louisiana to reduce its net greenhouse gas emissions by zero by 2050.
He stated that Louisiana is the most affected state in the nation by climate change. However, Louisiana is also the best-positioned state to help solve the world's problems.
The U.S. governors will be participating in panels. Climate Alliance members will also be participating on panels through the U.S. They will also join 65 subnational governments to announce "dozens" new commitments on November 7. According to a press release from the alliance, the panel will also be focused on politics that can "turbocharge greenhouse gases emissions reductions."
"Governors and mayors from all over the world don't believe that we should rely solely on our federal governments," Inslee of Washington stated during a Thursday news conference.
Katelyn Sutter (senior manager for U.S. climate at Environmental Defense Fund) stated that it is crucial for U.S. leaders and the world to move beyond planning to implement aggressive climate strategies.
She stated that "We need policies to support pledges to reduce our emissions." "That's where states like California and Washington, which have momentum going forward, can really make an impactful contribution."
Officials from the Newsom administration said that they want to show that California can tackle the climate crisis and that pollution targets should be set with historically underserved areas in mind. Newsom directed the state's regulator to create a plan to stop oil production by 2045.
Lauren Sanchez, Newsom’s senior advisor for climate, stated that "we can help push national governments towards increasing their ambition."
