Press Release
June 23, 2015
Contact: Laura Rehrmann, rehrmannl@c2es.org, 703-516-0621

C2ES issues status report on Obama Climate Action Plan progress

WASHINGTON – Two years after President Obama announced his Climate Action Plan, the administration has made notable progress in all areas, according to a new Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES) status report on the plan’s implementation.

There has been at least initial action on each of the 75 goals outlined in the plan, according to the C2ES status report.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is expected to finalize rules this summer to limit carbon pollution from the No. 1 source – power plants. As for emissions from the second largest source, transportation, new fuel economy standards are in place for cars and light trucks and are in the works for heavy-duty trucks built after model year 2018.

Other notable areas of progress include:

• New energy efficiency standards
• Actions to reduce methane and hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) emissions
• The release of climate adaptation plans by 38 federal agencies and a Climate Resilience Toolkit for the public,
• A joint announcement with China on new greenhouse gas targets.

Areas where there has been only initial progress include increasing the climate resilience of federal buildings and infrastructure.

“The administration is making good progress, and cities, states and businesses are all taking stronger climate action” said C2ES President Bob Perciasepe. “But achieving some of the plan’s goals will require sustained efforts beyond the president’s time in office. We’ll need continued federal leadership to reduce the emissions causing climate change and prepare for climate impacts.”

The plan, announced June 25, 2013, outlines goals in three areas: cutting U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, preparing for the impacts of climate change, and leading international efforts to address climate change. With Congress unlikely to enact major climate legislation in the near term, the Climate Action Plan relies almost entirely on steps the administration can take under existing laws.

Read the status report.

To speak to a C2ES expert about progress toward climate goals, contact Laura Rehrmann at rehrmannl@c2es.org.

About C2ES
The Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES) is an independent nonprofit, nonpartisan organization promoting strong policy and action to address the challenges of energy and climate change. Learn more at www.c2es.org.