In 2021, climate action made major strides in the United States as President Biden released executive orders, Congress passed a major infrastructure law, and federal agencies strengthened climate-related regulations. However, 2022, by contrast, has brought significant setbacks for climate action. Likely the most important comes in a Supreme Court decision announced on June 30th, which...
Little change in preponderance of fossil fuel usage as compared to renewables between 2020 and first few months of 2021; for the first two months of 2022, energy consumption released 953 million metric tons of carbon dioxide, up 40 million metric tons from the same period in 2021 (a 4.38% increase); emissions from wildfires so...
Across the world, youth are mobilizing for climate action by demanding their leaders do better to secure their futures, and the United States is no exception. Compared to older generations, young Americans are more worried about global warming and believe more strongly that it will pose a serious threat in their lifetimes. As a result,...
The United States is central to the natural gas industry worldwide. The country has been the world’s largest producer of natural gas since taking over the title from Russia about a decade ago. In 2020, the U.S. produced roughly 33.5 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, averaging out to 91.5 billion cub feet produced per...
The Russian invasion of Ukraine has already profoundly altered the world, with significant implications for the globe’s ability to transition to clean energy and stave off climate change. While countries scramble to meet their energy needs without relying on Russian gas, the United States has been dealt a critical choice: double down on fossil fuel...
HIGHLIGHTS – Clean Versus Fossil Energy Consumption (Monthly) – Carbon Dioxide Emission from Energy Consumption (Annually) – Wildfire Year-to-Date Statistics (Annually) Clean vs. fossil energy consumption Source: EIA monthly energy review, Topic 1.3, “Primary energy consumption by source” The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) updates its analysis of U.S. energy trends monthly, including comparisons...
HIGHLIGHTS Lack of access to disaster preparedness and relief programs Coastal relocation programs that can either exacerbate risk and create inequalities, or, when done well, reduce communities’ vulnerability Unequal Extreme Heat NARRATIVE The United States has not traditionally been thought of as being on the frontlines of climate injustice globally, as countries including low-lying...
HIGHLIGHTS Rejoined the Paris Agreement A New NDC Pledge to the Paris Agreement to Reduce Emissions by 50-52% by 2030 and reach Net Zero Emissions by 2050 Established a National Climate Task Force to Support Integration of Climate Policies in All Federal Agencies Committed to Conserving 30% of US Lands and Oceans by 2030 Committed...
Image: Metronome’s clock in Manhattan shows the artists’ interpretation of the amount of time left before the effects of climate change are irreversible. Source: The New York Times.PRIORITIES Speed up the Transition to Clean Energy Decrease Fossil Fuel Production Just Transition of the Workforce Funding Mitigation Efforts NARRATIVE After years of inaction, the United States...
This report is in the form of memos from Climate Scorecard Country Managers to Patricia Espinosa, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework to Combat Climate Change (UNFCCC). Below is a description of the progress the country has made made in mitigating greenhouse gas emissions since the Paris Agreement was signed in 2015 and the...
