Montgomery County Joins Leaders Across Maryland and the United States in Affirming Commitment to Global Climate Action on Fifth Anniversary of Paris Agreement

For Immediate Release: Wednesday, December 23, 2020

Montgomery County has joined counties and cities across Maryland and the United States to mark the five-year anniversary of the world coming together to sign on to the Paris Climate Agreement. To celebrate the anniversary that occurred on Dec. 12, local governments are committing to a national mobilization by signing the “America Is All In” declaration for a clean energy economy and centering their own operations in pursuit of climate action.

Montgomery County joins a number of Maryland jurisdictions that have signed the declaration, including Anne Arundel, Baltimore and Prince George’s counties and the cities of Annapolis, Baltimore, College Park, Rockville, Salisbury and Takoma Park. The Maryland jurisdictions are joining more than a thousand national leaders from local governments, businesses, universities and other institutions in the America Is All In declaration. The declaration will be delivered to the incoming Biden-Harris Administration.  

“Montgomery County is stepping up our efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, build resilience to the impacts of climate change and advance racial equity,” said Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich. “While our Draft Climate Action Plan puts us on the path to zero carbon emissions by 2035, we absolutely need Federal leadership and financial support to realize our goals. We are very eager to work with the Biden-Harris Administration and other local leaders and organizations to join us in declaring ‘We Are All In’ and committing to the transformational and uplifting work ahead.”

Council President Tom Hucker said: "Montgomery County continues to be a national leader in responding to the challenge of climate change. We've set aggressive energy goals in the County and we need our federal partners to step up and embrace clean energy with the same level of urgency. Now is the time to work together to adapt to a changing climate, embrace a clean energy economy and tackle the global climate crisis that affects us all." 

The America Is All In declaration is organized by We Are Still In, a coalition supporting climate action and a pledge to uphold the United States’ commitments to reduce emissions under the Paris Agreement. With more than 3,900 organizations and institutions across all sectors of the United States, the leaders represent more than half of the national population, nearly two-thirds of the economy and more than half of the country’s emissions.

While the United States officially exited the Paris Agreement on Nov. 4, the incoming Biden-Harris administration has committed to reentering the unprecedented global agreement.  

“December 12 is more than an anniversary of an agreement, it represents a critical turning point for the future of U.S. and global climate action,” said Elan Strait, director of U.S. Climate Campaigns at World Wildlife Fund. “Nationally, we have stumbled in our leadership on climate action. But We Are Still In shows that there was a commitment to change in the United States that never faltered. Today's statement sends a clear message that, moving forward, we need a unified national response to the climate crisis.”  

View the statement and signatories at AmericaIsAllIn.com at WeAreStillIn.com

Learn about Montgomery County’s Draft Climate Action Plan at MontgomeryCountyMD.gov/Climate.

# # #

 

Release ID: 20-811
Media Contact: Neil H. Greenberger 240-205-1915
Categories: Environment