A new report shows that the impact from the United States’ decision to withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement could be significantly mitigated thanks to determined action shown by US states, cities and businesses.

New initial analysis released at Climate Week NYC today includes 342 commitments coming from 22 US states, 54 cities and 250 businesses headquartered in the US

The findings from the report - States, cities and businesses leading the way: a first look at decentralized climate commitments in the US - show that the US can already meet half of its climate commitments under the Paris Agreement by 2025, if the 342 commitments included in the analysis are implemented.

Authored by NewClimate Institute and The Climate Group and powered by CDP data, the report provides the first steps in helping to quantify the contribution of states, cities and business to reduce US greenhouse gas emissions. As more and more commitments emerge, further analysis will be undertaken  within the Initiative for Climate Action Transparency (ICAT), where this work originated.

Launched today at the Climate Week NYC Opening Ceremony, Helen Clarkson, Chief Executive Officer, The Climate Group, organizers of Climate Week NYC, said:

“US states, cities and businesses are not waiting for the US federal government to make its position clear on Paris. This new report launched at Climate Week NYC this week highlights their unwavering commitment to climate leadership. It shows that US states, cities and businesses can go a long way in achieving America’s commitments under Paris Agreement, irrespective of the decisions taken by President Trump. The issue now is whether the federal government will remain on the side-lines, or play an active role in tackling the worst consequences of climate change on its citizens and ensuring prosperity for all Americans.”

In the report, the analysis shows that because of their leadership and size, large states such as New York, California and Colorado are making the largest contribution to projected greenhouse gas reductions. In fact, US states alone deliver more than two thirds of the total estimated emissions reductions. However, cities are more ambitious (average of 22% GHG reduction between 2015 and 2025) and crucial for the implementation of specific actions. Businesses currently have the steepest targets, aiming for a 25% reduction in the next ten years.

Prof. Dr. Niklas Höhne from NewClimate Institute, one of the authors of the report, added:

“Strikingly, there are more reasons to believe that the calculated impact of states, cities and businesses in the report is currently underestimated rather than overestimated.

 “We only included currently recorded and quantified commitments and the actors represented in this report currently only represent 44% of total US emissions. Much more action is happening that is not yet recorded or formulated in a quantified way.”

Taking place between September 18-24 in New York City, Climate Week NYC is one of the key summits in the international calendar and has been driving climate action since it was first launched by The Climate Group in 2009.

The summit annually takes place alongside the UN General Assembly and brings together international leaders from business, government and civil society to showcase the unstoppable momentum of global climate action.

Other initiatives, including America’s Pledge, are also planning to compile and quantify efforts from U.S. states, cities, businesses and other actors to address climate change in alignment with the Paris Agreement.

Click here to download the report States, cities and businesses leading the way: a first look at decentralized climate commitments in the US