Sixteen U.S. states and Puerto Rico lead the charge to bring down air pollution and climate emissions:

Seventeen governors of cities, all members of the U.S. Climate Alliance, have committed to reducing short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs) as part of essential efforts to fulfil the goals of the Paris Agreement — and they want national governments, other subnational governments, businesses and other actors to do the same.

Representing 40 per cent of the population of the United States and a $9 trillion economy, these 17 states will work comprehensively in the coming months to address SLCPs, while inviting these governments and other sectors to bring commitments to cut SLCPs to the Global Climate Action Summit in San Francisco, California, this September.

These SLCPs, including methane and black carbon, contribute to the air pollution that kills 7 million people in the world each year and cause trillions of dollars in productivity loss to respiratory illness, lung cancer, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and heart disease.

More information about measures and policies to reduce SLCPs can be found at the Climate and Clean Air Coalition Solution Centre.

Additionally, evidence is mounting on the countless other short- and long-term disadvantages and afflictions suffered by children from neonatal and early exposure to air pollutants.

Their efforts are part of a challenge launched by the U.S. Climate Alliance.

California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington State will collaborate to take new and continued actions over the coming months, including:

• reducing SLCPs, also known as “super pollutants”;
• mobilizing financing for climate projects;
• grid modernization;
• increasing the economic viability of renewable energy;
• advancing energy efficiency standards;
• building resilient communities and infrastructure;
• increasing carbon storage in landscapes; and
• deploying clean transportation.

U.S. Climate Alliance states are on track to meet their share of the Paris Agreement emissions target by 2025.

The Global Climate Action Summit will bring people together from around the world to showcase climate action and inspire deeper commitments from national governments, and each other, in support of the Paris Agreement.

Follow the SLCP Challenge on social media using #SLCPChallenge and #SLCPChallengeAccepted. Support your leaders and let us know what you, your state, city, business, country or organization are doing by using those hashtag, too.

Read more here: Seventeen Governors in U.S. Climate Alliance Mark One-Year Anniversary with New Wave of Climate Actions