STATEMENT: New Coalition Calls for the US To Go "All In" on Climate Action

WASHINGTON (February 19, 2021) – Today, thousands of US cities, states, tribal nations, businesses, schools and faith, health and cultural institutions have come together to form America Is All In. This new coalition joins two initiatives, America’s Pledge and We Are Still In, to advocate and empower a whole-of-society mobilization to develop a roadmap to cut emissions in half by 2030, reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, scale climate action across the country, and promote leadership of non-federal actors on the world stage. 

World Resources Institute, along with partners at the Rocky Mountain Institute and the University of Maryland's Center for Global Sustainability, provide analytical expertise to America Is All In. 

Following is a statement by Andrew Steer, President & CEO, World Resources Institute:

“Today is a pivotal day in US environmental history. Today the US re-enters the Paris Climate Agreement. And today thousands of local governments, corporations and civil society organizations are launching America is All In, committing to all-out action on climate change. Combined, these offer great hope and will provide a burst of energy into climate action at home and around the world. 

The Biden Administration is committed to announce a national emissions target (its so-called, NDC) in time for Earth Day on April 22. It can confidently set a target of a 50 percent reduction by 2030, knowing that this will benefit the US, jobs and competitiveness, and that thousands of powerful actors are determined to make it happen. WRI’s research shows that with collaboration between the federal government and US states, cities and businesses, America has the tools and incentives to sharply cut emissions and create a safer, stronger economy.”

The America Is All In initiative will help accelerate national climate action by bolstering a whole-of-society approach to address this crisis. You don’t have to look farther than Texas to understand the challenges the US faces in a changing world. Leadership by the federal government is essential, but we will need sustained engagement across US states, cities, businesses and the public to shift course.

In just a matter of weeks, the US federal government has shifted from a laggard to a leader on climate change. The Biden-Harris Administration has seized this issue, showing a determination for America to reengage in climate action at home and around the world. The reason is simple: they understand that climate action is not a barrier to economic growth, but rather it is essential for sustained growth in the 21st century.”