A coalition of economic, education, and local government leaders announced Monday it will continue to adhere to the Paris climate agreement regardless of America's withdrawal.
The "We Are Still In" coalition includes 125 cities, nine states, 902 businesses and investors, and 183 colleges and universities – and contributes $6.2 trillion to the U.S. economy, the group said in a news release on its website.
The effort is led by billionaire former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg, CBS News reported.
"The Trump administration's announcement undermines a key pillar in the fight against climate change and damages the world's ability to avoid the most dangerous and costly effects of climate change," the group statement said. "Importantly, it is also out of step with what is happening in the United States."
And it declared it will pursue climate goals "in the absence of leadership by Washington," adding "it is local and state governments, along with businesses, that are primarily responsible for the dramatic decrease in greenhouse gas emissions in recent years."
"Actions by each group will multiply and accelerate in the years ahead, no matter what policies Washington may adopt."
Signers include business behemoths like Apple, Google, Tesla, Target, eBay, Lyft, Adidas, Facebook, and Nike, while the participating states are California, Connecticut, North Carolina, Oregon, New York, Rhode Island, Virginia, Washington, and Hawaii.
Since President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw the United States from the Paris agreement, 211 mayors have adopted the Paris accord goals for their cities, 13 governors have joined to create the bipartisan U.S. Climate Alliance, and 17 governors have released statements standing by Paris, the coalition maintained.
"In Trump's first few months in office, he has done more to catalyze and motivate the private sector than Hurricane Katrina or Sandy, or the work of talented environmental organizations put together," Lynelle Cameron, president of the Autodesk Foundation, wrote in an op-ed posted Monday on CNBC.com.
"Trump's latest decision will activate the private sector like we've never seen before."
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