During the UN climate negotiations wrapping up in Paris, France, Earth Innovation Institute co-hosted An Evening in Celebration of Sub-national Innovation, a high-level event showcasing the leadership subnational jurisdictions are showing on climate change mitigation and sustainable rural development. In the event’s opening remarks, Governor Jerry Brown of California stressed the role sub-national jurisdictions play in solving our climate crisis, stating that “many of our nation states aren't doing enough – the national governments - so it becomes necessary for states, provinces and regions to be more aggressive and more imaginative.” In addition to Gov. Brown, governors from states across Brazil, Peru, and Mexico all participated in the event and gave a short presentation of their regions work, underscoring their dedication to reducing deforestation. As part of the event, EII released Subnational Climate Leadership: The Potential Contribution of the Under 2 MOU, a new report focusing on the potential impacts of the Under 2 MOU, an agreement in which sub-national governments pledge to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions 80-95% by 2050. The report shows how if just half of these jurisdictions implement their commitments, 20 billion tons of CO2e could be avoided. Over 300 people attended the event on December 8, 2015 hosted by EII along with the Governor's Climate and Forest Task Force, and in partnership with The Nature Conservancy, Environmental Defense Fund, Forest-Trends, Idesam, Inovasi Bumi, Pronatura Sur, A.C., Consejo Interregional Amazónico and USAID.