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Gov. Carney adds First State to U.S. Climate Alliance

Delaware is joining a growing list of states committing to uphold the Paris Climate Accord, despite President Trump’s move last week to withdraw the U.S. from the agreement.

Gov. John Carney (D-Delaware) announced Monday he’s signing on to the newly created U.S. Climate Alliance.  Delaware is one of 13 states to join the group.

Carney says the U.S should lead the effort to combat climate change and Delaware is proud to join a group of states providing what he called “necessary leadership.”

He says climate change – and specifically sea level rise - is a “very real threat” to the First State, the country’s lowest-lying state with 381 miles of coastline.  He also cited the health risks posed by rising average temperatures and more extreme weather events.

The Paris Agreement called for the U.S. to reduce emissions by 26-to-28 percent from 2005 levels by 2025.

Carney says the state is already working toward that goal in a number of ways, including its continued participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI).

That coalition of nine Mid-Atlantic and northeastern states is already committed to cut emissions by an annual 2.5 percent rate, and is weighing upping that commitment to 3 for 3.5 percent.

Tom Byrne has been a fixture covering news in Delaware for three decades. He joined Delaware Public Media in 2010 as our first news director and has guided the news team ever since. When he's not covering the news, he can be found reading history or pursuing his love of all things athletic.
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