Last week ended on a high-note, with the U.S. re-entering the Paris Climate Accords. Many of you may have joined the America is All in Call, where Gina McCarthy, John Kerry, and others, emphasized how much our quick action over the next decade matters, if we are to limit global warming to the 1.5 degree C limit scientists have warned us is key to stay beneath.

The good news is, we are starting to get back on track--with an international agreement back in place, a strong climate team within the administration, and political and social will to act higher than ever. Each of us has every reason to keep pushing in support of ambitious state-based and federal action, like those outlined below. We're proud to stand in community with you as you take steps to support these vital actions.

Thanks,

Erin

• Washington [Clean & Prosperous Washington] Sign on to Washington State's Climate Commitment Act Declaration: This is a great opportunity to support climate action in Washington State. Visit the campaign website for links to their newsletters, the declaration, and their recent webinar. Last Friday State Senate Transportation Committee Chair, Senator Steve Hobbs described the Climate Commitment Act (CCA) -- together with the Forward Washington transportation package that would be funded by the CCA -- as “probably the largest infrastructure and environmental package in state history”.
• Virginia [Ceres] Good news in Virginia:Virginia passed legislation to adopt California's Low-Emission Vehicle (LEV) and Zero-Emission Vehicle (ZEV) standards last Friday. Transportation accounts for half of the state's emissions, so this is a big step. Legislators also passed bills to scale up EV charging infrastructure and are even on track to create an EV rebate. And some of you helped make this progress happen.
• Minnesota [Ceres] Minnesota hosts a Virtual Clean Energy Business Day: Ceres’ partner Clean Energy Economy Minnesota (CEEM) is hosting its annual Virtual Clean Energy Business Day on March 10th. The event will feature a strong speaker line-up of state lawmakers; offer businesses an opportunity to share their clean energy story with policymakers; and provide peer networking opportunities. Ceres' members are welcome to participate and we encourage you to do so! Registration is free of charge. If you would like to have CEEM organize a meeting directly with your representative, please register by February 24th.
• North Carolina [Ceres] North Carolina Clean Energy Legislation Letter (3/4 deadline): Following release of the NC Clean Energy Plan and an extensive stakeholder process, we’re hoping that 2021 will be a big year for clean energy legislation in North Carolina. Our high-level sign-on letter calls for meaningful clean energy legislation to be passed this year. See the sign-on letter here.

[Ceres] California Climate and Equity Policy Opportunities in 2021 (3/1, 1pm PT): Please join Ceres for a virtual briefing on how equity will be elevated throughout California’s legislative and regulatory actions in 2021 and how policies can be crafted to address existing inequities and environmental burdens. Guest speakers include Veronica Eady, Senior Deputy Executive Officer of Policy and Equity, Bay Area Air Quality Management District and Sona Mohnot, Environmental Equity Senior Program Manager, the Greenlining Institute. You can register for this event here.