US Policy
Democratizing Data
As we enter the spring of 2021, we are already well into the decisive decade. By 2030, the United States needs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50–65 percent below 2005 levels to limit climate change to 1.5°C of warming. Fortunately, after four years of a leadership vacuum at…
US Cities Bought More Renewables Than Ever in 2020. Here’s How.
As the world reels from the financial blow of COVID-19, local governments in the United States are under huge pressure as cities and counties face severe budget shortfalls. This is forcing cuts to crucial spending on education and infrastructure as well as layoffs, furloughs, and hiring freezes.
Moving from a “Whole-of-Government” to a “Whole-of-Society” National Climate Strategy
Under the new Biden-Harris Administration, climate action once again has a place in federal policy. On day one, President Biden took action to return the country to the Paris Agreement and just a week later, he signed a robust executive order focused on the climate crisis. As we…
Getting the Social Cost of Carbon Right
This op-ed was first published on Project Syndicate. Copyright 2021 Project Syndicate. US President Joe Biden deserves congratulations for committing the United States to rejoin global efforts to combat climate change. But America and the world must respond to the challenge efficiently. Here, Biden’s January 20 executive order…
Signs of Hope for US Federal Climate Action in 2021
As we enthusiastically bid 2020 farewell, for many reasons 2021 is starting to feel like a year to be hopeful. While the roll-out of vaccines signal an impending slow-down to the pandemic, recent activity in DC is offering a similar glimpse to solutions on the horizon for the climate crisis.