MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) — Republican Gov. Phil Scott says Vermont is joining a coalition of states committed to upholding the Paris climate agreement despite President Donald Trump's decision to leave the historic international pact.

The U.S. Climate Alliance was formed by the Democratic governors of California, New York and Washington after Trump's announcement Thursday.

The governors of Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island also announced Friday that their states would be joining the alliance.

Scott says Vermont is a leader in environmental policy and natural resource management. He says the president's decision to withdraw the country from the agreement only strengthens the states' commitment and makes their work more important.