Broadening its commitment to an environmentally sustainable future, Los Angeles County has formally joined the Climate Reality Project’s County Climate Coalition initiative, pledging to the principles of the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement to combat climate change.  Los Angeles becomes the largest county to join the coalition as it secures partners across the nation.

The County Climate Coalition is a project and partnership spearheaded by Santa Clara County Supervisor Dave Cortese and The Climate Reality Project, an organization founded by former Vice President Al Gore.  By signing on, L.A. County agrees to implement strategies to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Gary Gero, chief sustainability officer of Los Angeles County, noted the importance of counties working together toward common goals.

“It is only through collective action that we will be able to address the challenges of a changing climate,” Gero said.

Los Angeles County is the 18th county to join the coalition and commits to continuing to combat climate change and reducing local air pollution through policies and programs that ensure that the needs of the most vulnerable communities, such as low-income communities of color, are addressed.

“In the absence of leadership from the federal government, regional and local leadership on climate will be critical to meeting the promises the U.S. made under the Paris Agreement,” said Ken Berlin, president and CEO of The Climate Reality Project. “We’re thrilled to see Los Angeles County join this incredible movement.”

The effort to bring Los Angeles County into the coalition was led by the Climate Reality Project’s West Valley Chapter.

“We are very excited that Los Angeles ­– the [most populous] county in America – has joined the County Climate Coalition,” said Diana Weynand, chapter chair.

For more information, visit climaterealityproject.org.