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Pritzker signs EO committing Illinois to Paris Climate Agreement

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* Press release…

Surrounded by environmental advocates in the state capital’s Southwind Park, Governor JB Pritzker took executive action joining the U.S. Climate Alliance, becoming the 18th governor to uphold the environmental protections despite President Trump’s withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement.

“I ran on a bold agenda to protect our environment, help our workers thrive and build the 21st century economy our state deserves, and now I’m taking action to join the U.S. Climate Alliance and stand on the side of science and reason,” said Gov. JB Pritzker. “I’m proud to join the bipartisan coalition of governors and states committed to upholding the provisions of Paris Climate Agreement. While the president is intent on taking us backwards, I will work hard every day to move our state forward. We know that climate change is real. We know it’s a threat. And we know we must act.”

Advancing a key environmental priority, the governor officially signed on to the U.S. Climate Alliance which commits the state to the principles of the Paris Climate Agreement in order to protect Illinoisans from the damaging effects of climate change. President Trump pulled out of the international agreement on June 1, 2017.

Executive Order 2019-06 also directs the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency to monitor the Trump Administration’s environmental proposals and identify opportunities to protect Illinoisans from environmental harm. The executive order takes effect immediately.

“Communities across America are facing the impacts of climate change. We need more leaders like Governor Pritzker that are committed to deploying climate solutions, promoting sustainable economic growth and creating high-quality jobs,” said Julie Cerqueira, executive director of the U.S. Climate Alliance. “We welcome the state of Illinois into the Alliance, and look forward to supporting their priorities and learning from their experience.”

“The governor’s commitment to clean energy will improve public health and bring new economic opportunities and investment to Illinois,” said Jennifer Walling, president of the Illinois Environmental Council. “The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has found that we have just 12 years to limit carbon emissions in order to keep climate change at moderate levels. Governor Pritzker’s executive action commits Illinois to the goals of the U.S. Climate Alliance.”

“By joining the U.S. Climate Alliance as one of his first acts in office, Governor Pritzker is showing the world that, even though Donald Trump wants out of the clean energy economy, Illinois is all in,” said Jack Darin, director of Sierra Club Illinois. “We can and must reach these climate goals, and we know we need to do so in a way that puts our workers and disadvantaged communities first. We know Governor Pritzker shares these values and can unite Illinois in planning for the 100% clean energy future we all want, and that starts today.”

“Climate change is real and Illinoisans are already experiencing its harmful effects,” said Sen. Melinda Bush (D-31st), who chairs the Senate Energy and Environment committee. “I’m proud to stand with Gov. Pritzker in acknowledging science and taking action to preserve and protect our planet. We must make every effort to secure Illinois’ place as a leader in the green economy”

“The governor’s actions today will put Illinois at the forefront of efforts to develop and use clean energy and take concrete steps to reduct carbon emissions,” said Rep. Ann Williams (D-11th), who chairs the House Energy and Environment committee. “We must get serious about pushing back on the dangerous environmental policies of the Trump administration which have left our communities vulnerable and put the public health at risk. Today, under the leadership of Governor Pritzker, we’ve done just that.”

The EO is here.

One thing he could do is come up with some reasonable and uniform statewide siting requirements for solar and wind power to prevent local NIMBYs from stopping reasonable developments. Counties are developing patchwork quilts of regulations, some reasonable, some less so. We need to standardize this across the state, but the various interest groups haven’t been able to reach an agreement on their own. An engaged governor could knock some heads and offer some capital plan goodies to convince folks to go along.

…Adding… Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition…

While the Federal Government remains shut down, today’s announcement is an important reminder that the responsibility to protect citizens from the harms of climate change has fallen to the states. By signing on to the U.S. Climate Alliance, Governor J.B. Pritzker has taken an important first step in fulfilling his commitment to put Illinois on a path to 100% renewable energy by 2050, and he has demonstrated his leadership on climate action in the Midwest.

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Jan 23, 19 @ 11:12 am

Comments

Parts of the Paris Climate Accord talks about wealthier nations helping to pay for poorer nations develop renewables. My question. Which side of the fence will Illinois be on. The given or receiven.

Comment by Blue Dog Dem Wednesday, Jan 23, 19 @ 11:19 am
Kuddos, it is about time! Illinois has been exposed for far too long by toxins, dangerous pollution, and chemicals in our air, water, environment, health and quality of life. We need to be able to breath clean air, drink potable clean water, and live safely in our homes with our families and protect them.

Comment by Enviro Wednesday, Jan 23, 19 @ 11:21 am
I don’t believe there is much the world can do about climate change; the west’s per capita output is astronomical and China/India are on their way to catch up.

Climate issues will be whack-a-mole, solve one problem for ten others to pop up, with the earth rapidly changing all the while.

Regardless, something should be done and this will have daily benefits of improving air quality and quality of life for us on a daily basis. It is about more than just pie in the sky goals.

Hopefully we will begin taking serious measures to address the impacts that climate change will have, not just trying to undo damage already done. The poor will take the hit, as usual.

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Jan 23, 19 @ 11:22 am
We do need serious action in this area. Doing something about NIMBYs would be great - too many deniers and shortsighted people can’t be allowed to doom us all.

Comment by Nobody Sent Wednesday, Jan 23, 19 @ 11:23 am
I have always thought that the perfect place for solar farms is on top of the hundreds of acres of warehouses and industrial buildings that are around the State. Another good place is on top of airport hangers.

Property doesn’t have to be taken out of agricultural production, the panels are somewhat hidden from sight, don’t have to worry about shade from trees, and most likely the least environmental impacts.

What’s a NIMBY going to say? Not on that rooftop?

Comment by Huh? Wednesday, Jan 23, 19 @ 11:30 am
Look at what the other Governors who signed on to this have done. All with national ambitions, and all trying to one-up each other.

Comment by Ok Wednesday, Jan 23, 19 @ 11:40 am
Kind of ironic. JB in ginning up progressive street cred with EO that are largely superfluous (aren’t all EO’s?) due to initiatives that were passed and signed during the Rauner administration: HB 40 and Clean Energy Jobs Act.

Comment by Roman Wednesday, Jan 23, 19 @ 11:42 am
LOL

Comment by VanillaMan Wednesday, Jan 23, 19 @ 11:50 am
== Parts of the Paris Climate Accord talks about wealthier nations helping to pay for poorer nations develop renewables. ==

-blue dog-, that’s my objection to the Paris agreement. Massive giveaway by the richer nations with no oversight or guarantee the money will be used for the intended purpose. We should be getting something more than a warm, fuzzy feeling.

Comment by RNUG Wednesday, Jan 23, 19 @ 11:59 am
In response to @ - Huh? - Wednesday, Jan 23, 19 @ 11:30 am: One of the major contributors to point and non point pollution, specifically nitrates and phosphorus, is agriculture. Then there are the “industrial” AG industries that are tainting the air we breath. NIMBY is a silly response since it can be miles and miles from you or your home but still contaminate your air, water, and quality of life. Think downstream or downwind!

Comment by Enviro Wednesday, Jan 23, 19 @ 12:20 pm
==VanillaMan LOL == Please enlighten us…

Comment by Anotheretiree Wednesday, Jan 23, 19 @ 12:30 pm
Meteorologist and weather legend Tom Skilling periodically does excellent coverage of human-caused global warming, for example the accelerated ice melting in Greenland. Good on Pritzker—the opposite of Trump, who has no respect for the science and mocks it.

Comment by Grandson of Man Wednesday, Jan 23, 19 @ 12:38 pm
I get nimby is a problem, but we’re not always good at thinking of the local consequences when legislating at the State level. Ex. You have all these people competing for solar tax credits for solar farms that can be placed about anywhere. But instead of incentivizing these be put on brownfields and other useless sites (old landfills), most of the applications I have seen around here are requesting solar farms on productive Illinois farm land. If we’re going to legislate and subsidize for green energy, let’s legislate where it should go. It sholdn’t be going on a finite resource (good cropland).

Comment by Shemp Wednesday, Jan 23, 19 @ 12:57 pm
Well, this governor has apparently read the Constitution and understands the Gov in IL has a lot of power, something his predecessor never gasped.

I think the issue is daily executive orders that are going to cost us more money we don’t have are making his biggest problem(the budget) bigger.

Rich had good articles, but I think JB needs 4-8 billion in extra revenue to balance the budget and get some of his major agenda done this year. Daily EO’s spending money is going in the wrong direction for guy who has not put a tax hike in writing.

Comment by the Patriot Wednesday, Jan 23, 19 @ 1:07 pm
Anybody know the cost to consumers of doing this instead of using the cheapest alternative available?

Comment by Driveby Wednesday, Jan 23, 19 @ 1:10 pm
===cheapest alternative===

Depends how you define “cheapest.” There are short-term costs and long-term costs.

Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Jan 23, 19 @ 1:11 pm
Good move and it looks like the Governor wants to hit the road running. But the EO is skimpy on details. Like who will lead the state’s climate change efforts? What will be the focus areas? How will state agencies be organized to do their part? Will a stakeholder advisory group be created to provide direction? Will an action plan be developed and by when? Hopefully more details will be released in the coming weeks on the process the Governor envisions for identifying the steps state government will take to meet the climate agreement.

Comment by Going nuclear Wednesday, Jan 23, 19 @ 1:15 pm
Solar development should take advantage of rooftops; unlike wind energy, solar on the ground precludes any other uses. But statewide standards for wind energy would be problematic.
We have centuries of experience with the adverse effects of fossil fuels and decades of experience with the adverse effects of nuclear power; we have only a decade of experience with wind energy in Illinois. Not all of the potential adverse environmental effects are understood. Our bat populations are being devastated by wind turbine collisions, but that may be only the most obvious adverse impact. And, too, zoning regulations allow local control; we don’t want to repeat the folly of state regulation of hog farm siting, where locals have no say whatever. Wind may be the best alternative out there, but we shouldn’t deal with it blindly. It certainly transforms the rural landscape.

Comment by Oberon Wednesday, Jan 23, 19 @ 1:23 pm
Shemp never understood the farmland argument. This country exports billions of bushels of crops. Thus suppressing prices in developing countries. Is it Malthus reverberating across time that leads people to the farmland argument?

Comment by y Wednesday, Jan 23, 19 @ 1:24 pm
=== Our bat populations are being devastated===

And there’s a simple solution that could be written into state law https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/bat-killings-by-wind-energy-turbines-continue/

Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Jan 23, 19 @ 1:28 pm
Good news. An executive order is nice–and maybe next the Governor’s Office of Sustainability could reopen?

The old one actually did quite a bit to help spur sustainability efforts at community colleges (my sector). It helped IGEN, the Illinois Green Economy Network (of community colleges) get started.

Comment by Jane A. Wednesday, Jan 23, 19 @ 1:45 pm
A third of our electrical power in Illinois still comes from coal. We should shut those coal plants down immediately and install billions in solar PV as part of the Capital bill.

Comment by Biker Wednesday, Jan 23, 19 @ 2:11 pm
=== - Huh? - Wednesday, Jan 23, 19 @ 11:30 am:

I have always thought that the perfect place for solar farms is on top of the hundreds of acres of warehouses and industrial buildings that are around the State. Another good place is on top of airport hangers. ===

Not a bad idea, but cost prohibitive for existing buildings due to the necessary structural modifications.

Comment by Birdseed Wednesday, Jan 23, 19 @ 2:14 pm
Good move politically. But more can be done

Comment by Siriusly Wednesday, Jan 23, 19 @ 3:13 pm
Foreign affairs and treaties are the business of the federal government according to our US Constitution. The Paris deal was merely a wealth transfer to the developing nations, not very helpful to America’s own poor or working people who will be taxed or rendered jobless in some industries. If there is a problem with CO2 in the atmosphere these days, it is primarily caused by China and India. US levels have gone down dramatically in recent years despite not signing onto this boonodoggle. Obama’s own EPA estimated it would take 100 years to reduce the temp by a degree centigrade costing billions per year. A foolish endeavor given the ridiculous costs (study disappeared a few years back. Sen. Inhofe talked about it some years go.)

Comment by Penny Wednesday, Jan 23, 19 @ 4:40 pm
Switching to regenerative agricultural practices on public land used for crops and creating policies that incentivize it for the private sector would pull carbon out of the atmosphere and increase farmers profit margins.

Comment by Froganon Wednesday, Jan 23, 19 @ 4:42 pm
I give up on this zombie hole.

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Feb 1, 19 @ 6:30 am