April 8, 025
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, the co-chairs of the U.S. Climate Alliance — New York Governor Kathy Hochul and New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham — issued the following statement in response to the President’s executive order targeting state authority:
“The federal government cannot unilaterally strip states’ independent constitutional authority. We are a nation of states — and laws — and we will not be deterred. We will keep advancing solutions to the climate crisis that safeguard Americans’ fundamental right to clean air and water, create good-paying jobs, grow the clean energy economy, and make our future healthier and safer.”
The Alliance is a bipartisan coalition of 24 governors — representing nearly 55 percent of the U.S. population and 60 percent of the U.S. economy — all committed to securing America’s net-zero future through state-led, high-impact climate action. Since its creation in 2017, the coalition has been a cross-cutting, consistent source of leadership to uphold U.S. climate action both domestically and abroad.
The Alliance has vowed to protect America’s progress and to sustain and advance climate action on a number of occasions in recent months, including in a letter from the Alliance’s co-chairs to UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell; ahead of the presidential inauguration; at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP29); after the election in statements from its co-chairs and with America’s other top subnational climate action coalitions; and in a video featuring governors on its executive committee.
In March the Alliance released a viedo featuring remarks from members’ State of the State and inaugural addresses spotlighting their progress and unwavering commitment to climate action.
Additional governors across the Alliance detailed their progress and continued action on climate in their State of the State and inaugural addresses delivered in recent months, including:
- Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont, who highlighted the importance of energy efficiency and increasing the supply of low-carbon energy to save consumers money.
- Hawaiʻi Governor Josh Green, who emphasized the need to transition to a clean transportation future, tackle the challenges of climate-related disasters, and support Maui’s recovery.
- Maine Governor Janet Mills, who pushed for action on a measure to better prepare homes and public infrastructure against future storms.
- Maryland Governor Wes Moore, who called for the state to become the capital of clean energy and underscored that investing in conservation and environmental protection is growing the state’s economy.
- Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey, who committed to continuing to lead on clean energy, pointed to the growth and success of the state’s new Climate Tech initiative, and noted how artificial intelligence could be used to model the impacts of climate change to better protect the coast.
- North Carolina Governor Josh Stein, who pointed to the need for the state to rebuild water systems, roads, bridges, and dams, so they are resilient and can withstand future disasters.
- Oregon Governor Tina Kotek, who detailed investments to build more resilient communities, accelerate the clean energy transition, modernize the energy grid, help lower residential energy bills, create a better network of public fast chargers, restore habitat, manage water, conserve species, and better prepare for and mitigate wildfire threats.
- Vermont Governor Phil Scott, who highlighted how the state protected 3,500 acres with climate change mitigation projects.
The Alliance member states are:
Arizona
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
Guam
Hawaiʻi
Illinois
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Puerto Rico
Rhode Island
Vermont
Washington
Wisconsin