Gov. Peter Shumlin joined representatives from the Western Hemisphere in signing the Climate Action Statement at the Climate Summit of the Americas in Toronto on Thursday, according to a news release.
The Climate Action Statement, which the release described as “the first ever Pan-American action statement on climate change,” recognizes a need for concerted and collaborative effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and acknowledges the responsibility of regional government to impact global climate action. Signatories to the statement include government and community leaders from Canada, the United States, Mexico, Brazil and the Yucatan.
By signing the statement, these representatives agreed to support carbon pricing, ensure public reporting and take action to meet existing greenhouse gas reduction agreements. The statement expands on other recent agreements, including the Under 2 Memorandum of Understanding, in which signatories affirmed their commitment to limiting the increase in global average temperature to less than 2 degrees Celsius – the warming threshold at which scientists say there will likely be “catastrophic climate disruptions,” according to the release.
The release also highlighted steps the Shumlin administration said it has taken toward an environmentally responsible energy policy in Vermont.
“I am proud to join my fellow Governors, mayors, and global community leaders in signing this statement of action on climate change,” Shumlin said in the release. “Good climate policy is good economic policy, and Vermont is leading the way to a cleaner, greener economy as we transform the way we generate energy. We will continue to work with other regional and world leaders to deliver a sustainable future for our children and grandchildren.”
Read the Climate Action Statement in full here.
