US states, cities step in to fill Trump Paris exit

By Michael Hernandez

WASHINGTON (AA) - A group of U.S. states and cities, including the world's sixth largest economy, have vowed to fill the climate gap left in the wake of President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw the U.S. from an historic climate pact.

With Trump seeking to renegotiate the climate accord, the prospects of which remain highly unclear, U.S. sub-national bodies have committed to sticking to the parameters of the Paris agreement.

None have sought a greater reduction than global economic heavyweight California, however, which is seeking to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40 percent relative to 1990 levels by 2030 under a previously established climate goal.

After Trump declared he would pull the U.S. out of the international accord, California Gov. Jerry Brown said if Trump is going to abandon U.S. leadership in the pact "then California and other states will step up.”

His state is joining ranks with Washington and New York in what is being called the United States Climate Alliance (USCA). The group will seek to pursue the climate goals established under the Paris accord, and in California's case, excel beyond them.

Together the states represent one-fifth of U.S GDP, and nearly one-fifth of the U.S. population, according to a statement.

Billionaire and former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg is also working to rally city mayors, 30 of whom have reportedly agreed to join the so far unnamed group, along with 100 businesses and the USCA.

Bloomberg has offered to put up $14 million of his own money to foot the U.S.'s share of funding for the UN mechanism that coordinates the Paris pact, according to the New York Times.