The Climate Reality Project, Santa Clara County Announce Partnership on the County Climate Coalition
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Partner for national campaign to secure more climate commitments from county leaders around the US
San Francisco, Calif.– At an event coinciding with the Global Climate Action Summit, former US Vice President Al Gore, County Supervisor Dave Cortese and The Climate Reality Project President and CEO Ken Berlin announced a partnership between Santa Clara County and The Climate Reality Project to advance ambitious climate action in counties across the United States.
Led by Santa Clara County, the County Climate Coalition is a collection of counties committed to meeting the goals of the Paris Agreement by implementing results-oriented measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Climate Reality and Santa Clara County will work together to secure more climate commitments from counties across the country and work with these counties to commit to run their operations with 100 percent renewable electricity.
Climate Reality brings its unique expertise in this arena to the County Climate Coalition. The organization’s 100% Committed campaign has already secured meaningful commitments from cities, towns, universities, and businesses around the nation pledging to transition to 100 percent renewable electricity by 2030. Cities that have already signed on to 100% Committed include Salt Lake City, UT; Boulder, CO; and Shandaken, NY.
“The climate crisis is the most urgent threat we face today, and as we have seen here at the Global Climate Action Summit, local and regional leadership is a source of great hope that we can and will find a solution,” Berlin said. “Counties can be just as much a part of this solution as cities, towns, and other municipalities, and I am excited to see county leaders step up to create a better future for all of us.”
Santa Clara County is an example of the immense potential counties have to move the needle on climate action here in the United States. The home of Silicon Valley, Santa Clara is the sixth most populous county in the nation and has the third-highest GDP per capita in the world, thanks in part to employment from the clean energy sector. The county has committed to moving to 100 percent renewable electric power by the end of 2019, demonstrating how ambitious climate commitments can support and bolster a booming economy.
“Santa Clara County is deeply committed to meeting the promises the US made under the Paris Agreement,” said Supervisor Cortese. “We ask other counties – large and small – to join us in the County Climate Coalition and use our collective impact to create better, safer, and healthier environments for our communities and our neighbors around the world.”
The County Climate Coalition is currently made up of counties in California, Colorado, New Jersey, Utah, and Maryland.
ABOUT THE CLIMATE REALITY PROJECT
Founded by Nobel Laureate and former US Vice President Al Gore, The Climate Reality Project is working to catalyze a global solution to the climate crisis by making urgent action a necessity across every level of society. With a global movement more than 5 million strong and a grassroots network of trained Climate Reality Leader activists, we are spreading the truth about the climate crisis and building popular support for clean energy solutions. For more information, visit www.climaterealityproject.org or follow us on Twitter at @ClimateReality.
ABOUT SANTA CLARA COUNTY
The County of Santa Clara government serves a diverse, multi-cultural population of 1.9 million residents in Santa Clara County, the fifth largest county in California. With a $6.5 billion budget and more than 70 agencies/departments and more than 20,000 employees, the County of Santa Clara plans for the needs of a dynamic community, provides quality services, and promotes a healthy, safe and prosperous community for all. The County provides essential services, including public health protection, environmental protection, medical services through Santa Clara Valley Medical Center (SCVMC), child and adult protection services, homelessness prevention and solutions, roads, park services, libraries, emergency response to disasters, protection of minority communities and those under threat, access to a fair criminal justice system, and scores of other services, particularly for those members of our community in the greatest need.
Contact:
Stacie Paxton Cobos
Janice Rombeck