The United States Climate Alliance
As the climate crisis continues to worsen, it is pertinent that the United States addresses the climate effects of its industries. However, the current administration is not climate-friendly, so several governors have used the Alliance to take the matter into their own hands. The United States Climate Alliance is a bipartisan collection of governors in the United States working together to lead with climate-friendly policies and staff. Governors collaborate on multi-state issues to combat the effects of climate change across regions of the US. The organization is led by a Secretariat composed of climate experts and professionals to gain bipartisan support across political party divides. Currently, the executive director of the organization is Casey Katims.
Participating states include those along the East Coast from North Carolina all the way up to Maine, and along the West Coast from California to Washington. In addition, there are states in the Midwest (MN, WI, MI, IL) and the Southwest (CO, NM, AZ). Overall, 23 US states and the territory of Guam belong to the alliance. Notably, these states make up a majority of the United States’ population–54%, to be exact–therefore, it is imperative to have this group of governments working together to address the climate crisis.
One example of the effective action that this alliance of governors and states is taking is the impact it has had on Colorado industrial pollution. Six years after a law regulating industrial pollution was passed, pollution reductions from these facilities have surpassed the goal set when the law was first enacted.
Other examples include Michigan’s Governor Gretchen Whitmer signing a new executive directive for the state to explore clean energy alternatives, as well as Minnesota’s Governor Tim Walz signing a new 2026 climate neutrality action plan for the state. Governors in the Alliance have challenged the Trump Administration’s EPA for discarding the finding that climate change has made a significant impact on the health and well-being of American citizens.
Recently, more states have joined the US Climate Alliance, such as Governor Abigail Spanberger of Virginia and Governor Mikie Sherrill of New Jersey. More states must continue to join forces to combat the effects of climate change on the American public. If not, we will continue to contribute to the worst biodiversity crisis this Earth has seen since the meteor struck the Earth during the dinosaur age millions of years ago. As we see more and more US governors waking up to the climate crisis and aligning with the rest of the world, we must encourage them to be aggressive with policies that help slow down, build resilience against, and prepare for the impacts of climate change.
This Post was submitted by Climate Scorecard US Country Manager, Abby Carlson.