President Donald Trump's announcement last week that he will begin the process of withdrawing the United States from the Paris Climate Change Agreement is a deeply disappointing decision, one that jeopardizes the future of the planet and cedes U.S. leadership on international climate action.

However, the announcement also is catalyzing action across the country. If the federal government will not take steps to transition to a low carbon economy and create good clean-energy jobs in our communities, it is up to America's state and local governments, corporations, nongovernmental organizations and citizens to make it happen. That work begins right here in New York.

After President Trump's announcement last week, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that New York State will join California and a newly formed coalition of other states that are working to meet the Paris commitments. Mayor De Blasio signed an executive order reaffirming New York City's continued commitment to climate action, and is working with a coalition of cities around the country and the world to support the Paris process and achieve promised emissions reductions without the Trump administration's support.