As the Paris Climate Agreement took effect on Friday, Gov. Jerry Brown called attention to California’s leading role in the landmark agreement.
“Today on climate, the world moves from commitment to action,” said Brown. “Now it’s up to cities, states and provinces to drastically cut toxic carbon pollution and get us to our goal. The clock is ticking.”
Brown attended last year’s United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris, as did then Assembly Speaker Toni Atkins, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and Chula Vista Mayor Mary Salas.
The agreement, signed by 190 nations, commits world governments to limit the increase in global average temperature to below 2 degrees Celsius or 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit.
Just a month before the meeting, Brown signed legislation establishing the most ambitious target for greenhouse gas reduction in North America. California has also committed to generate half of it’s electricity from renewable sources by 2030.
Brown has noted that impacts of climate change are already being felt in California and will disproportionately impact the state’s most vulnerable populations.
