US Federal

To meet the climate challenge, the United States needs a comprehensive national approach. Well-designed federal policy can cut emissions and strengthen resilience while driving economic growth.

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Agricultural and Forestlands: U.S. Carbon Policy

The United States can capitalize on its substantial natural, institutional, and human resources to develop a strong, integrated, carbon sequestration program. The goals of a national sequestration strategy should include: Achieving actual increases in carbon stocks on its forest and agricultural …

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Agenda for Climate Action

Over the past seven years, the Pew Center has published more than 60 reports on the science, economics, solutions, and policy options related to global climate change. Over that time, the scientific consensus on this issue has only strengthened, but …

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Climate Change Activities in the U.S.: 2004 Update

This recently updated publication provides an overview of climate-related efforts in the United States, including activity: In Congress, where in October 2003, the U.S. Senate for the first time voted on legislation that would cap U.S. greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions …

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U.S. Technology and Innovation Policies

Technological innovation on a global scale will be needed to mitigate global climate change. To significantly reduce emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases (GHGs), three types of technological innovations are needed: (1) more efficient technologies that use …

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A Climate Policy Framework: Balancing Policy and Politics

A diverse group of business, government, and environmental leaders, brought together by the Aspen Institute and the Pew Center, recommends a framework for a mandatory greenhouse gas reduction program for the United States. The group started with the premise that, …

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U.S. Technology and Innovation Policies: Lessons for Climate Change

New technologies for electric power generation, transportation, industry, and consumer products are expected to play a major role in efforts to reduce the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that contribute to global climate change. Yet technological change on this scale cannot …

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Climate-Friendly Energy Policy: Options For The Near Term

The majority of U.S. greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions—84 percent—are in the form of carbon dioxide (CO2), resulting almost entirely from the combustion of fossil fuels. As a result, energy policies that reduce fossil fuel use will reduce GHG emissions. Fossil …

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Designing a Mandatory Greenhouse Gas Reduction Program for the U.S.

In response to the goal of the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change to stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations at a level that would prevent dangerous human interference with the climate system, the United States has instituted a number of programs …

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Designing a Climate-Friendly Energy Policy: Options for the Near Term

Energy use and climate change are inextricably linked. In the current national energy policy debate, choices made today will directly impact U.S. greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions far into the future. In addition, near-term energy policy decisions will affect the costs …

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The Timing Of Climate Change Policy

Over the past several decades, the scientific community has arrived at a consensus that the earth’s climate is being changed by human influences, most importantly the release of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other “greenhouse gases” (GHGs) into the atmosphere. The …

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