SAN FRANCISCO – Yesterday, joined by Ministers from Europe and Latin America, Mayors from capital cities, and CEOs of major transportation companies, California State Transportation Agency Secretary Brian Annis signed the Transport Decarbonisation Alliance (TDA) charter on behalf of California, making California the first north American member of the international Transport Decarbonisation Alliance. This milestone is one of many new commitments being made during the multi-day Global Climate Action Summit, contributing to joint efforts to make further carbon emission reductions from the transport sector.

“We are pleased to join this esteemed community of practice, offering policies from California and learning from our global public and private colleagues to tackle climate change,” said Secretary Brian Annis. “In California, we have made great efforts to reduce emissions caused by our transportation sector and look forward to continuing that effort for years to come.”

With a growing population of 38 million residents and 30 million vehicles, California has an ambitious suite of policies to advance clean fuels, clean cars, and clean transit. Governor Brown has set a goal of 1.5 million zero emission vehicles by 2025, and 5 million by 2030. California’s leading Low Carbon Fuel Standard has generated innovation in fuels. California is building America’s first 100% electric high-speed rail system, linking major metro areas powered by 100% renewable energy. California has further directed over $10 billion in Cap-and-Trade and Senate Bill 1 funding for clean transportation and sustainable communities since 2013. These investments to decarbonize the transportation sector include: cleaner cars, buses, and transit; trucks, rail, and freight operations; as well as affordable housing and transformative community investments.

Welcoming California to the Transport Decarbonisation Alliance (TDA), the TDA Chairperson and Vice Minister of Environment of Portugal José Mendes said:

“California is an inspiring leader of Climate Action at the global level. California is a front runner on transport decarbonisation and we hope that your membership will be followed by other “front running” US States, cities or companies stepping up to decarbonise transport. Together we will act on transport, accelerate climate action against global warming to accomplish and advance the implementation of the Paris Agreement”

The TDA builds on the commitments and the stated ambition of Heads of States, Mayors and CEOs to decarbonize transport before 2050, targeting emissions from all modes of passenger and freight transport, including land transport, aviation and maritime transport. This is the first-time parties across the three key constituencies (countries/regions, cities and companies) are committing to work together in a coordinated way to catalyse the transformation of the transport sector.

California becomes the 19th Member of the Transport Decarbonisation Alliance joining: Countries: Costa Rica, Finland, France, Luxembourg, Netherlands and Portugal, Cities: Rotterdam, Lisbon, Porto, Gaia and Matosinhos and Companies: Alstom, CEiiA, Deutsche Post DHL Group, EDP, ITAIPU Binancional, Michelin, and PTV.

For more information about the TDA and its Members please see: www.tda-mobility.org

The TDA Secretariat can be contacted on: tdasecretariat@tda-mobility.org.

Download the press release about California joining the TDA here.