Virginia, United States, 12 March 2019: Maine on February 28 became the 21st state in the United States, along with Puerto Rico, to join the US Climate Alliance, AHRI said through a Press communiqué. With Maine as its newest member, the Climate Alliance now represents 50% of the U.S. population and nearly an $11 trillion economy. The climate and clean energy policies of these states have created 1.6 million renewable energy and energy efficiency jobs and cover 35% of the US greenhouse gas emissions, the communiqué quoted AHRI as saying.

The Climate Alliance aims to implement policies that advance the goals of the Paris Agreement, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by at least 26-28% below 2005 levels by 2025, the communiqué said. One of the Climate Alliance’s key initiatives is to reduce the use of super pollutants in the member states, such as hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). In addition, the Climate Alliance aims to mobilise financing for climate projects, work on grid modernisation, update appliance-efficiency standards and to implement other proposals to fight climate change.