Negotiators from more than 190 countries on Dec. 12 approved a far-reaching agreement to slow the emission of greenhouse gases and the advancement of climate change.

Regardless of whether the pact is ultimately ratified by those nations, and what it will spell out in the responsibilities for the United States, the job is really up to us. What gets done on a statewide, local and personal level may have a greater impact in helping the world and our communities avoid the harshest effects of climate change. Efforts already are under way:

n Even before attending the U.N. Conference on Climate Change in Paris, Gov. Jay Inslee shook off the Legislature’s rejection earlier this year of two of his climate initiatives: a clean fuels standard and a carbon tax.

In August, Inslee announced he would ask the state Department of Ecology to move forward with a process to set a baseline cap by 2020 on the tons of carbon dioxide that manufacturers, refineries, utilities and others can emit, then ratchet down that cap over time. Those that exceed the cap could invest in projects that reduce pollution or seek to buy carbon credits in other states and nations.

While they consider Inslee’s efforts as “government-centric,” Kris Johnson of the Association of Washington Business and Daren Konopaski of the International Union of Operating Engineers agree that efforts to reduce carbon emissions are important and point to voluntary measures already taken by industry leaders in the state — noting for example, Boeing’s 9.3-percent reduction since 2007 in the greenhouse gases it emits.

Those voluntary efforts are worthy of appreciation, but that shouldn’t take the heat off of those who aren’t making a similar effort. A carbon cap would level the playing field for all in industry.

n Advances are being made in reducing emissions and making the switch to clean energy technologies more affordable and economically feasible. Prices for solar panels, for example, have dropped 80 percent since 2009.

Solar is increasingly popular in Washington state, where systems generating 14 megawatts, enough to power 4,700 homes, were installed in 2014, representing a 9 percent increase over the previous year.

“Local and state leaders are having a huge impact on the international negotiations,” said K.C. Golden, a policy analyst for the Olympia-based advocacy group Climate Solutions. “Northwest leaders are showing the positive face of America and have buoyed confidence … that we’re serious about solutions.”

It would be disheartening to see rejection of a treaty by Congress, but four words, as often as they are heard, hold true: Think globally, act locally.