Question

What steps has the United States took to curb carbon emissions without, at least less, hurting our economy? What steps has the US taken to get other countries to curb their emissions as much as we do?

Answer 1

Decarbonizing the generation sector was one of the strategies for reducing carbon dioxide emissions — mainly by reducing coal and increasing renewable energy, particularly wind and solar power. This policy was part of the initiative under former President Barack Obama's Clean Power Plan for the European Union and for the United States. The United States made progress in decarbonizing its generation sector by producing 36 percent of its electricity from non-carbon sources in 2017, compared with 27 percent in 1985. In 2017, non-hydroelectric renewables produced 10 per cent of U.S. output.

The power sector is responsible for one-third of U.S. pollution, and is the primary source of possible short-term reductions. Although the Clean Power Plan proposed by the EPA is vital to achieving the 2025 goal, moving beyond the proposal would make it easier for the country to meet or surpass its climate targets. The EPA, which will finalize the plan this summer, will set tighter emission standards for the power sectors of the state which take into account the full range of available cost-effective renewable energy and efficiency resources. By increasing their renewable energy requirements and saving goals for energy efficiency, States may meet these goals. Such legislation also spares money for customers

Energy efficiency also provides a cost-effective choice for reducing the use of electricity and reducing emissions. The Department of Energy (DOE) can broaden its requirements for appliance quality, and states should strengthen their goals for cost-saving and build codes. State programs that improve the efficiency of homes and businesses regularly save consumers $2 for every dollar invested — sometimes as much as $5.