The U.S. government’s newly announced nationally determined contribution (NDC), which includes a target to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 61 to 66% below 2005 levels by 2035, could help guide government policy in a post-Trump world, the World Resources Institute (WRI) has said.
The WRI was commenting following an announcement by the Biden administration regarding the country’s NDC, which it said keeps the U.S. ‘on a straight line or steeper path to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions, economy-wide, by no later than 2050’.
If President Trump, who takes office in January, makes good on his promise to withdraw from the Paris Agreement, the country will no longer be obliged to commit to this target. However, as Debbie Weyl, WRI US acting director, commented, it may act as an important marker for future U.S. administrations.
Future plans
“Even though the Trump administration may not lift a finger to deliver on this plan, it sets a north star for what the U.S. should be aiming for and could help guide the federal government’s priorities once Trump leaves office in 2029,” she commented.
“The 2035 emissions reduction target is at the lower bound of what the science demands and yet it is close to the upper bound of what is realistic if nearly every available policy lever were pulled. Assertive action by states and cities will be essential to achieving this goal.”
Clean energy transition
As Weyl noted, the US needs to “swiftly expand renewable energy and electric vehicles, modernise the electric grid, and decarbonise heavy industry”, adding that transitioning to a clean energy economy could create millions of jobs, revitalise middle America, and boost U.S. competitiveness around the world.
“The devastating climate disasters we’ve seen in recent months are a stark reminder that all actors in the United States must do far more to protect communities, infrastructure and food security from floods, wildfires, droughts and rising seas,” she said. “To safeguard our future, we will need to significantly increase investments to boost resilience in the face of climate impacts that will continue to get worse. The American people deserve nothing less.” Read more here and here.
