Michael Bloomberg Announces New Funding for “America’s Pledge” U.S. Climate Report to Counter Trump Administration’s Failure on Addressing Climate Crisis

COLLEGE PARK, Md., May 28, 2019 /3BL Media/ – Today, Michael R. Bloomberg, the United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Climate Action, is doubling down on his commitment to support ongoing efforts at the state and local levels to combat the climate crisis as the current U.S. administration fails to act. Bloomberg will grant $2.3 million to the University of Maryland’s Center for Global Sustainability and the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) to evaluate and analyze current U.S. greenhouse gas emissions reductions. As UN Special Envoy, Bloomberg will submit the report to the United Nations to demonstrate U.S. progress in meeting carbon reduction commitments made under the Paris Climate Agreement.

This will be the third report funded by Bloomberg and his America’s Pledge on climate change initiative, which he launched in 2017 with former California Governor Jerry Brown to compile and quantify the actions of “non-Party actors,” including U.S. states, cities and businesses, to ensure the United States could keep its commitments under the Paris Agreement despite the lack of federal engagement. The report takes the place of the emissions report previously created and submitted by the U.S. State Department but which was abandoned by the Trump administration in 2017. It will be presented to the UN at COP 25 in Santiago, Chile in December 2019.

“This Administration’s negligence on climate change and kowtowing to the coal industry is harming Americans’ health and safety – and costing us money in higher electric bills,” said Michael Bloomberg. “But we’re not going to let that stand in our way: We’re going to uphold our end of the Paris Agreement, no matter what happens in Washington. America’s Pledge helps to speed our progress by bringing people together, collecting data, and outlining ways we can do more. The next report will add to that momentum, and the University of Maryland is an important partner in our work.”

“Bottom-up climate leadership from states, cities, businesses, and universities is where the action is today,” said Robert Orr, Dean of the UMD School of Public Policy. “Our Center for Global Sustainability is proud to continue working with Bloomberg Philanthropies on America’s Pledge. Fusing strong data and analytics with political and economic leadership from below has proven to be a powerful and necessary tool to address the climate crisis we face today.”

In addition to continuing support for the University of Maryland’s climate research, Bloomberg remains focused on state-level advocacy efforts for clean energy and climate policy and legislation. Maryland has been a leader in clean energy policy: Earlier this week the Legislature passed a bill putting the state on track for 50% renewable energy by 2030, a key policy solution for climate change. Bloomberg Philanthropies was proud to support the Maryland League of Conservation Voters and the Maryland Chapter of the Sierra Club in their advocacy for this victory.

Michael Bloomberg will deliver the University of Maryland’s spring commencement address at a ceremony this afternoon at the Xfinity Center in College Park.

About America’s Pledge:
In the wake of the Trump Administration’s decision to pull out of the Paris Agreement, an unprecedented number of U.S. cities, states, businesses, and universities have reaffirmed their commitment to helping America reach its Paris climate goals. Whether through declarations like We Are Still In or new pledges and commitments of their own, these non-national actors are maintaining U.S. momentum on climate action in the absence of federal leadership. In July 2017, former New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and then California Governor Jerry Brown launched the America’s Pledge initiative, which seeks to aggregate and quantify the actions of states, cities and businesses and other non-national actors in the United States to drive down their greenhouse gas emissions consistent with the goals of the Paris Agreement. To learn more about America’s Pledge, please visit www.americaspledge.com

About Bloomberg Philanthropies:
Bloomberg Philanthropies works in 480 cities in more than 120 countries around the world to ensure better, longer lives for the greatest number of people. The organization focuses on five key areas for creating lasting change: Arts, Education, Environment, Government Innovation, and Public Health. Bloomberg Philanthropies encompasses all of Michael R. Bloomberg’s charitable activities, including his foundation and his personal giving. In 2018, Bloomberg Philanthropies distributed $767 million. For more information, please visit bloomberg.org or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Twitter.

Media Contacts:
Lee Cochran, lee@bloomberg.org
Rachel Nagler, rnagler@bloomberg.org