America’s Pledge: Building a Comprehensive American Climate Policy

Rising to meet the ambition set out by our global climate commitments demands accelerated actions and commitments between all actors across our society: states, cities, businesses, universities, faith groups, and more. These sum-of-society actors have incredible leverage to impact the trajectory of greenhouse gas emissions, innovate across our economy, and accelerate the speed of the global clean energy transition. Our research demonstrates that these actors from diverse sets when acting in concert can drive a similar impact as national governments in reaching our climate targets.

In the U.S., a coalition of over 3,600 cities, states, businesses, universities, communities of faith, and others have pledged their commitment to support the goals of the Paris Agreement in their own capacities -- representing more than half of the U.S. population (173 million people) and nearly 60% of U.S. GDP ($11.4 trillion). If this coalition were a country, it would be the world’s third largest economy and the world’s fourth largest GHG emitter. And this coalition is only growing. CGS is taking a leadership role in research to advance collaborative, innovative climate action and policy through the third installation of its America’s Pledge: expanding our unique research and analysis, strategic engagement and communications to inform the U.S. strategy leading up to 2030.