Michael R. Bloomberg, the United Nations (UN) Special Envoy on Climate Ambition and Solutions, has announced efforts to uphold U.S. obligations under the Paris Agreement following the federal government’s second withdrawal.
Bloomberg Philanthropies and other funders will address the funding gap left by the U.S. to the UN Climate Change Secretariat and ensure compliance with reporting requirements, according to a statement on Thursday.
“From 2017 to 2020, during a period of federal inaction, cities, states, businesses, and the public rose to the challenge to uphold our nation’s commitments—and now, we are ready to do it again,” said Bloomberg.
Highlighting the growing impacts of climate disasters and the economic benefits of clean energy, Bloomberg underscored the determination of Americans to combat climate change despite federal inaction.
Bloomberg Philanthropies has pledged to fund and support local climate leadership through initiatives like America Is All In, a coalition of subnational leaders aiming to reduce U.S. emissions by 61-66% below 2005 levels by 2035.
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The initiative builds on Bloomberg’s past actions, including America’s Pledge, launched in 2017 with then-California Governor Jerry Brown to aggregate and report non-federal climate commitments.
Bloomberg-funded U.S. Climate Action pavilions at UN Climate Conferences have showcased the efforts of cities, states, and businesses to achieve Paris Agreement goals.
Laurence Tubiana, CEO of the European Climate Foundation, praised Bloomberg’s leadership, stating that U.S. philanthropy and subnational actors are “stepping up” to address the climate crisis.
“Since the Trump administration has failed once again to meet the moment, Mike Bloomberg is showing what real leadership looks like,” said Gina McCarthy, Managing Co-Chair of America Is All In, who is also a former White House National Climate Advisor and the 13th U.S. EPA Administrator.
Research from the University of Maryland indicates that ambitious actions from cities, states, and businesses can help cut U.S. emissions by up to 62% by 2035, demonstrating the power of local and private sector leadership in advancing global climate goals.
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