Open letter to the international community and parties to the Paris Agreement from U.S. state, local, and business leaders

We, the undersigned mayors, governors, college and university leaders, businesses, and investors are joining forces for the first time to declare that we will continue to support climate action to meet the Paris Agreement.

In December 2015 in Paris, world leaders signed the first global commitment to fight climate change. The landmark agreement succeeded where past attempts failed because it allowed each country to set its own emission reduction targets and adopt its own strategies for reaching them. In addition, nations - inspired by the actions of local and regional governments, along with busi- nesses - came to recognize that fighting climate change brings significant economic and public health benefits.

The Trump administration's announcement undermines a key pillar in the fight against climate change and damages the world's ability to avoid the most dangerous and costly effects of climate change. Importantly, it is also out of step with what is happening in the United States.

In the U.S., it is local and state governments, along with businesses, that are primarily responsible for the dramatic decrease in greenhouse gas emissions in recent years. Actions by each group will multiply and accelerate in the years ahead, no matter what policies Washington may adopt.

In the absence of leadership from Washington, states, cities, colleges and universities, businesses and investors, representing a sizeable percentage of the U.S. economy will pursue ambitious climate goals, working together to take forceful action and to ensure that the U.S. remains a global leader in reducing emissions.

It is imperative that the world know that in the U.S., the actors that will provide the leadership necessary to meet our Paris commitment are found in city halls, state capitals, colleges and univer- sities, investors and businesses. Together, we will remain actively engaged with the international community as part of the global effort to hold warming to well below 2°C and to accelerate the transition to a clean energy economy that will benefit our security, prosperity, and health.

Christine Riordan, President of Adelphi University Carmen Fernandez, President of Northern Marianas College Raymond Crossman, President of Adler University John Jasinski, President of Northwest Missouri State University Elizabeth Kiss, President of Agnes Scott College Peter Hsieh, President of Northwestern Polytechnic University Bruce Leslie, Chancellor of Alamo Colleges Morton Schapiro, President of Northwestern University James Mullen, President of Allegheny College Marylou Yam, President of Notre Dame of Maryland University Sylvia Burwell, President of American University Marvin Krislov, President of Oberlin College Carolyn Martin, President of Amherst College Jonathan Veitch, President of Occidental College Sara Wenger Shenk, President of Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary Lawrence Schall, President of Oglethorpe University Thomas Manley, President of Antioch College (OH) M. Duane Nellis, President of Ohio University Melinda Treadwell, Provost of Antioch University New England Rockwell Jones, President of Ohio Wesleyan University Michael Crow, President of Arizona State University Joseph Robertson, President of Oregon Health & Science University Paul Pribbenow, President of Augsburg College Edward Ray, President of Oregon State University Marjorie Hass, President of Austin College Stephen Friedman, President of Pace University-New York Leon Botstein, President of Bard College Allan Belton, President of Pacific Lutheran University Robert Goldberg, Interm President of Barnard College Thomas Ramage, President of Parkland College Clayton Spencer, President of Bates College Rajen Vurdien, President of Pasadena City College Mariko Silver, President of Bennington College Cathy Dove, President of Paul Smith's College Lyle Roelofs, President of Berea College Eric Barron, President of Pennsylvania State University Ellen Kennedy, President of Berkshire Community College Melvin Oliver, President of Pitzer College Robert Kustra, President of Boise State University David Oxtoby, President of Pomona College Glen LeRoy, President of Boston Architectural College Mark Mitsui, President of Portland Community College Robert Brown, President of Boston University Wim Wiewel, President of Portland State University Clayton Rose, President of Bowdoin College John Flicker, President of Prescott College Mickey Burnim, President of Bowie State University Thomas Schwarz, President of Purchase College, State University of New York Ronald Liebowitz, President of Brandeis University Carlee Drummer, President of Quinebaug Valley Community College John Sbrega, President of Bristol Community College Peter Mercer, President of Ramapo College of New Jersey Thom Chesney, President of Brookhaven College Bradley Bateman, President of Randolph College J. David Armstrong, Jr., President of Broward College Rosanne Somerson, President of Rhode Island School of Design Kimberly Cassidy, President of Bryn Mawr College William Troutt, President of Rhodes College John Bravman, President of Bucknell University Gregory Dell’Omo, President of Rider University Katherine Conway-Turner, President of Buffalo State College, SUNY Michael Viollt, Chancellor of Robert Morris University (Illinois) Samia Yaqub, President of Butte College William Destler, President of Rochester Institute of Technology Judie Wexler, President of California Institute of Integral Studies Donald Farish, President of Roger Williams University Christopher Kimball, President of California Lutheran University Ali Malekzadeh, President of Roosevelt University Jeffrey Armstrong, President of California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo Phoebe Haddon, Chancellor of Rutgers the State University of New Jersey Camden Campus Soraya Coley, President of California State Polytechnic University-Pomona Nancy Cantor, Chancellor of Rutgers the State University of New Jersey Newark Campus Mildred Garcia, President of California State University-Fullerton Robert Barchi, President of Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey Timothy White, Chancellor of California State University System James Dlugos, President of Saint Joseph’s College of Maine Horace Mitchell, President of California State University-Bakersfield Jack Calareso, President of Saint Joseph's College, New York Erika Beck, President of California State University-Channel Islands John Neuhauser, President of Saint Michael’s College Gayle Hutchinson, President of California State University-Chico Eugene Cornacchia, President of Saint Peter's University Leroy Morishita, President of California State University-East Bay Janet Dudley-Eshbach, President of Salisbury University Jane Conoley, President of California State University-Long Beach Mary Papazian, President of San Jose State University William Covino, President of California State University-Los Angeles Stephen Sundborg, S.J., President of Seattle University Eduardo Ochoa, President of California State University-Monterey Bay Michael Engh, S.J., President of Santa Clara University Dianne Harrison, President of California State University-Northridge Cheryl Roberts, President of Shoreline Community College Robert Nelsen, President of California State University-Sacramento Helen Drinan, President of Simmons College John Cox, President of Cape Cod Community College Kathleen McCartney, President of Smith College Barbara Snyder, President of Case Western Reserve University Joe Bertolino, President of Southern Connecticut State University Gregory Smith, President of Central Community College Paul LeBlanc, President of Southern New Hampshire University Bernard Ploeger, President of Chaminade University of Honolulu Linda Schott, President of Southern Oregon University Donald Laackman, President of Champlain College David Evans, President of Southern Vermont College William Guerriero, Interim President of Chandler-Gilbert Community College Mary Campbell, President of Spelman College David Finegold, President of Chatham University Tuajuanda Jordan, President of St. Mary's College of Maryland Barbara Viniar, President of Chesapeake College Nancy Zimpher, Chancellor of State University of New York (SUNY) James Milliken, Chancellor of City University of New York (CUNY) James Stellar, Interim President of State University of New York at Albany Anthony Collins, President of Clarkson University Donald Christian, President of State University of New York at New Paltz David Angel, President of Clark University Samuel Stanley, President of State University of New York at Stony Brook Grafton Nunes, President of Cleveland Institute of Art Erik Bitterbaum, President of State University of New York College at Cortland Ronald Berkman, President of Cleveland State University Deborah Stanley, President of State University of New York College at Oswego David McInally, President of Coe College Quentin Wheeler, President of State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry Brian Casey, President of Colgate University Scott Evenbeck, President of Stella and Charles Guttman Community College Mary Dana Hinton, President of College of Saint Benedict Nariman Farvardin, President of Stevens Institute of Technology Darron Collins, President of College of the Atlantic Harvey Kesselman, President of Stockton University Philip Boroughs, President of College of the Holy Cross Kristine Young, President of SUNY Orange Lee Bollinger, President of Columbia University L. Jay Lemons, President of Susquehanna University Katherine Bergeron, President of Connecticut College Valerie Smith, President of Swarthmore College Laura Sparks, President of Cooper Union Kent Syverud, Chancellor & President of Syracuse University Maria Thompson, President of Coppin State University Celeste Schenck, President of The American University of Paris Carol Quillen, President of Davidson College R. Barbara Gitenstein, President of The College of New Jersey Stuart Baron, President of Delaware College of Art and Design Sarah Bolton, President of The College of Wooster Jean Goodnow, President of Delta College Steven Knapp, President of The George Washington University Adam Weinberg, President of Denison University David Van Zandt, President of The New School Neil Weissman, Acting President of Dickinson College Kim Schatzel, President of Towson University John Fry, President of Drexel University Joanne Berger-Sweeney, President of Trinity College Elsa Núñez, President of Eastern Connecticut State University Patricia McGuire, President of Trinity Washington University Mary Cullinan, President of Eastern Washington University Karin Hilgersom, President of Truckee Meadows Community College Donald Eastman, President of Eckerd College Anthony Monaco, President of Tufts University Carl Strikwerda, President of Elizabethtown College Stephen Ainlay, President of Union College (NY) Lee Pelton, President of Emerson College Melik Khoury, President of Unity College Janet Eisner, President of Emmanuel College Kurt Schmoke, President of University of Baltimore Jake Schrum, President of Emory & Henry College Janet Napolitano, President of University of California John Nader, President of Farmingdale State College Nicholas Dirks, Chancellor of University of California, Berkeley Anne Prisco, President of Felician University Ralph Hexter, Interim Chancellor of University of California, Davis Mark Rosenberg, President of Florida International University Howard Gillman, Chancellor of University of California, Irvine Joseph McShane, President of Fordham University Gene Block, Chancellor of University of California, Los Angeles F. Javier Cevallos, President of Framingham State University Dorothy Leland, Chancellor of University of California, Merced Daniel Porterfield, President of Franklin & Marshall College Kim Wilcox, Chancellor of University of California, Riverside Ronald Nowaczyk, President of Frostburg State University Pradeep Khosla, Chancellor of University of California, San Diego Elizabeth Davis, President of Furman University Sam Hawgood, Chancellor of University of California, San Francisco Angel Cabrera, President of George Mason University Henry Yang, Chancellor of University of California, Santa Barbara Joseph Marbach, President of Georgian Court University George Blumenthal, Chancellor of University of California, Santa Cruz Janet Morgan Riggs, President of Gettysburg College Charles Ambrose, President of University of Central Missouri Robert Kenny, Interim President of Goddard College Susan Herbst, President of University of Connecticut James Brenneman, President of Goshen College Eric Spina, President of University of Dayton José Bowen, President of Goucher College Dennis Assanis, President of University of Delaware Robert Pura, President of Greenfield Community College Rebecca Chopp, Chancellor of University of Denver Robert Allen, President of Green Mountain College Louise Pagotto, Interim Chancellor of University of Hawai'i Kapi'olani Community College Raynard Kington, President of Grinnell College Helen Cox, Chancellor of University of Hawai'i Kaua'i Community College Jane Fernandes, President of Guilford College David Lassner, President of University of Hawai'i System Jonathan Lash, President of Hampshire College J. Bruce Harreld, President of University of Iowa Kimberly Benston, President of Haverford College Jay Perman, President of University of Maryland Baltimore Nancy Gray, President of Hollins University Freeman Hrabowski III, President of University of Maryland Baltimore County Lisa Rossbacher, President of Humboldt State University Donald Boesch, President of University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science Alan Cramb, President of Illinois Institute of Technology Wallace Loh, President of University of Maryland College Park Jerry Corcoran, President of Illinois Valley Community College Juliette Bell, President of University of Maryland Eastern Shore Benjamin Allen, Interm President of Iowa State University Javier Miyares, President of University of Maryland University College Thomas Rochon, President of Ithaca College Martin Meehan, President of University of Massachusetts James Troha, President of Juniata College Kumble Subbaswamy, Chancellor of University of Massachusetts Amherst Jorge Gonzalez, President of Kalamazoo College J. Keith Motley, Chancellor of University of Massachusetts Boston Dawood Farahi, President of Kean University Peyton Randolph Helm, Interim Chancellor of University of Massachusetts Dartmouth Anne Huot, President of Keene State College Jacqueline Moloney, Chancellor of University of Massachusetts Lowell Leslie Bellavance, President of Kendall College of Art and Design of Ferris State University Julio Frenk, President of University of Miami Sean Decatur, President of Kenyon College Michelle Behr, Chancellor of University of Minnesota-Morris Jorge Diaz-Herrera, President of Keuka College Mark Huddleston, President of University of New Hampshire Alison Byerly, President of Lafayette College Steven Kaplan, President of University of New Haven Linda Lujan, President of Lamar Community College Michael Schill, President of University of Oregon Mary Spilde, President of Lane Community College Isiaah Crawford, President of University of Puget Sound Linda LeMura, President of Le Moyne College David Dooley, President of University of Rhode Island Lewis Thayne, President of Lebanon Valley College Ronald Crutcher, President of University of Richmond John Simon, President of Lehigh University Joel Seligman, President & CEO of University of Rochester José Luis Cruz, President of Lehman College, City University of New York Julie Sullivan, President of University of Saint Thomas David Ellis, Interim President of Lewis & Clark College James Harris, President of University of San Diego David Livingston, President of Lewis University Paul Fitzgerald S.J., President of University of San Francisco Thomas Hellie, President of Linfield College Harris Pastides, President of University of South Carolina Columbia Jo Ann Rooney, President of Loyola University Chicago Ronald Mason, Jr., President of University of the District of Columbia Kevin Wildes, President of Loyola University New Orleans Ana Mari Cauce, President of University of Washington Paula Carlson, President of Luther College Bernie Patterson, Chancellor of University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Michael Cooper-White, President of Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg Robert Caret, Chancellor of University System of Maryland Brian Rosenberg, President of Macalester College Jonathan Chenette, President of Vassar College Kevinq Quigley, President of Marlboro College Thomas Greene, President of Vermont College of Fine Arts Samuel Hoi, President of Maryland Institute College of Art Marc Mihaly, President and Dean of Vermont Law School Melody Rose, President of Marylhurst University Peter Donohue, President of Villanova University Matthew Shank, President of Marymount University Scott Miller, President of Virginia Wesleyan College David Podell, President of Massachusetts Bay Community College Nathan Hatch, President of Wake Forest University David Nelson, President of Massachusetts College of Art and Design Steven Solnick, President of Warren Wilson College James Birge, President of Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts Mark Wrighton, Chancellor of Washington University in St. Louis Lou Anna Simon, President of Michigan State University Paula Johnson, President of Wellesley College Laurie Patton, President of Middlebury College Jonathan Gibralter, President of Wells College John Anderson, President of Millersville University of Pennsylvania Michael Roth, President of Wesleyan University Grey Dimenna, President of Monmouth University John Dunn, President of Western Michigan University Susan Cole, President of Montclair State University Rex Fuller, President of Western Oregon University Bryon Grigsby, President of Moravian College Lee Rasch, President of Western Technical College Sonya Stephens, Acting President of Mount Holyoke College Sabah Randhawa, President of Western Washington University H. James Williams, President of Mount St. Joseph University Dennis Hanno, President of Wheaton College (MA) Debra Derr, President of Mt. Hood Community College Kathleen Murray, President of Whitman College John Williams, President of Muhlenberg College Kathleen Waldron, President of William Paterson University of New Jersey Charles Lief, President of Naropa University Adam Falk, President of Williams College Daan Braveman, President of Nazareth College Richard Helton, Interim President of Wittenberg University Milan Milasinovic, President of New England Culinary Institute Laurie Leshin, President of Worcester Polytechnic Institute Kent Devereaux, President of New Hampshire Institute of Art Barry Maloney, President of Worcester State University Sue Henderson, President of New Jersey City University Joel Bloom, President of New Jersey Institute of Technology Michael Young, President of New York Film Academy Andrew Hamilton, President of New York University Christa Slejko, President of North Lake College Patricia Gentile, President of North Shore Community College Mark Erickson, President of Northampton Community College Joseph Aoun, President of Northeastern University