State leaders have proven to be some of our nation’s greatest champions for confronting the climate crisis in recent years, passing strong laws and policies to address some of the most daunting issues facing the nation and the planet as the federal government largely ignored them. Now, even with a new White House putting climate and environmental justice issues at the center of its policy agenda, states are not letting up. This year has so far brought another important set of climate victories at the state level, with the federal focus only adding to the momentum.

These federal and state initiatives promise to complement and reinforce one another at a critical time. The infrastructure package Congress is debating, for example, could unlock key funding for states to help them achieve or expand their climate goals. That’s one reason why state leaders are among those who joined the America Is All In coalition to push Congress for smart federal climate policies in July, alongside forward-looking companies and investors who see grave economic risks in failing to protect the climate, as well as massive economic opportunity in taking action.

Meanwhile, it will be impossible to achieve our national climate targets and build a clean U.S. economy without state investments and policies around electricity, transportation, and buildings, for instance. Many of the states that have already taken action serve as a model for the nation, showing that robust climate policy is politically viable, economically beneficial, and can be achieved on a bipartisan basis.

Read the full article about climate policy in states by Alli Gold Roberts at Skoll Foundation.