PARIS - At a ceremony today at the U.S. Embassy in Paris Air Resources Board Chairman Mary D. Nichols issued the following statement in support of the Subnational Global Climate Leadership Memorandum of Understanding (Under 2 MOU) signed today by Governor Jerry Brown: 

"This agreement confirms and advances the crucial role that states, provinces and regions play in the international effort to slash greenhouse gases and stabilize the world's climate," said Chairman of the California Air Resources Board Mary D. Nichols. "This MOU binds together a network of jurisdictions from three continents to lead in the fight against climate change, demonstrating the type of international agreement we need to achieve later this year in Paris." 

Background 

The Under 2 MOU commits the signatory jurisdictions to work together to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from 80 to 95 percent by 2050 -- the level scientists now estimate is necessary to hold global warming to less than two degrees centigrade . Alternatively, signing jurisdictions can ensure that their citizens will reduce their individual greenhouse gas emissions to under two metric tons per year.

Local and regional governments will be responsible for more than half the actions needed to achieve those goals.

As a world leader in the fight against climate change California is already taking a variety of actions, starting with The Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (AB 32). Groundbreaking programs under that law and other programs in place now will reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the state back to 1990 levels by 2020 and provide models which may be adopted at a state, regional or national level.

Governor Brown recently set the overall goal of reducing those emissions a further 40 percent by 2030 with the ultimate target of an 80 percent reduction by 2050

The following jurisdictions are confirmed to sign on to the MOU as founding signatories by May 19, 2015.

1. Acre, Brazil
2. Baden-Württemberg, Germany
3. Baja California, Mexico
4. British Columbia, Canada
5. California, USA
6. Catalonia, Spain
7. Jalisco, Mexico
8. Ontario, Canada
9. Oregon, USA
10. Vermont, USA
11. Wales, UK
12. Washington, USA

These jurisdictions together represent more than 100 million people and a collective GDP of about $4 trillion a year, equal to the fourth largest economy on Earth.