On June 1, 2017, President Trump announced that the United States would withdraw from the Paris Agreement under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Some U.S. businesses, states, and cities have nevertheless announced plans to continue taking actions on a voluntary basis to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.
A group of U.S. corporations and leaders from business, government, and academia have coalesced around former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg to make a joint commitment to achieving the Paris Agreement's climate objectives. Mayor Bloomberg is coordinating a group of U.S. cities, states, and companies dubbed the "We Are Still In" group, which is preparing to submit a plan to the United Nations pledging to meet U.S. greenhouse gas emissions targets under the Paris Agreement. Group leaders hope that by redoubling their efforts, cities, states, and corporations can surpass the United States' original pledge under the Paris Agreement to reduce U.S. greenhouse gas emissions 26 percent by 2025 from their levels in 2005.
"We Are Still In" includes more than 200 mayors, nine governors, more than 300 university presidents, and more than 1,600 businesses, including Apple, eBay, and Google. For example, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg committed to powering every new data center the company builds with 100 percent renewable energy. Salesforce CEO Mark Benioff committed to reaching net-zero greenhouse gas emissions, delivering a carbon neutral cloud, and achieving 100 percent renewable energy. On June 13, 2017, Apple issued a $1 billion green bond to fund renewable energy generation.
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