U.s. Paris Agreement Target

The United States` Paris Agreement target: What you need to know

In December 2015, the United States joined more than 190 other countries in signing the Paris Agreement, which is a global effort to combat climate change. The goal of the agreement is to limit the global temperature increase to below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, while also pursuing efforts to limit the increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

As part of the Paris Agreement, each country set its own emissions reduction target, known as a nationally determined contribution (NDC). The U.S. NDC was to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 26-28% below 2005 levels by 2025.

However, in June 2017, President Donald Trump announced the United States` intention to withdraw from the Paris Agreement, citing concerns about its impact on the U.S. economy. The U.S. officially withdrew on November 4, 2020, but President-elect Joe Biden has promised to rejoin the agreement upon taking office in January 2021.

Despite the U.S. withdrawal, many states, cities, and businesses have pledged to continue to uphold the Paris Agreement`s goals. In fact, more than 2,500 U.S. cities, states, businesses, universities, and other organizations have joined the “We Are Still In” movement, which pledges to support the Paris Agreement regardless of federal government action.

Many experts argue that the U.S. could still meet its original NDC targets even without federal government action. According to a report by the Rhodium Group, a research firm that analyzes climate and energy issues, U.S. emissions in 2019 were already 12% below 2005 levels, putting the country on track to achieve a 17% reduction by 2025. However, the report notes that much more action is needed to reach the 26-28% reduction target and to continue to reduce emissions beyond 2025.

Some of the key strategies to reduce emissions and achieve the U.S. NDC target include transitioning to clean energy sources like wind and solar power, increasing energy efficiency, electrifying transportation, and reducing emissions from agriculture and other industries. Many states and cities are already implementing these strategies and seeing positive results.

In conclusion, while the U.S. government has officially withdrawn from the Paris Agreement and its NDC target, many other entities in the country are still committed to achieving its goals. Significant action is needed to reduce emissions and combat climate change, but with the right policies and actions, the U.S. can still contribute to the global effort to protect the planet for future generations.