Introduction
The Biden Administration has promised to “take swift action to address the climate emergency” and set ambitious emissions goals for the U.S. economy. Such action will require Congress to approve sweeping new emissions targets and grants of authority to the executive branch. In the absence of such action, federal agencies will need to push the limits of their existing regulatory authorities to try to meet the president’s goals. AAF’s series, Addressing the Climate Challenge, will analyze the major legislative and regulatory proposals aimed at addressing climate change in terms of their effectiveness at reducing emissions and their impact on the economy.
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Biden's Climate Goals
Infographic
Policy Proposed in the NDC by Sector
The Biden Administration submitted its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) to the United Nations in April to assert how the United States would reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to comply with the Paris Agreement.
Regulation
Insight
EPA Proposes New Methane Regulations on Oil and Natural Gas Industries
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released the text of a proposed rule regulating methane emissions from the oil and natural gas industries. EPA’s proposal would, for the first time, regulate existing facilities; it would also add additional requirements…
Insight
Examining the NDC: Electricity Generation
Executive Summary The United States’ recent Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) submission to the United Nations promises to achieve greenhouse gas reductions of 50-52 percent from 2005 levels by 2030 and establishes a goal of “100 percent carbon pollution-free electricity by…
Insight
Examining the NDC: Methane from Oil and Natural Gas
Executive Summary The United States’ plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 50-52 percent from 2005 levels by 2030, introduced as part of rejoining the Paris Agreement on climate change, relies in part on new methane-emission regulations on the oil and…
Insight
Examining the NDC: Transportation Emissions
Executive Summary Greenhouse gases from transportation sources represent the largest source of emissions by sector in the United States, and reducing these emissions is necessary for the Biden Administration to reach its goal stated in the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC).…
Insight
Assessing the Climate Impacts of the EPA’s Proposed Vehicle Emissions Rule
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Environmental Protection Agency’s recent proposed rule on greenhouse gas emissions from light-duty vehicles is the first of several expected rulemakings targeting the transportation sector in an effort to help the United States meet its goal of reducing…
Legislation
Insight
Methane Fees for Petroleum and Natural Gas Systems
Executive Summary The Build Back Better Act includes various provisions aimed at addressing climate change, including a methane fee that would be in effect as of 2023. As proposed, the methane fee would be specifically targeted at the natural gas…
Insight
The CLEAN Future Act’s Clean Electricity Standard
Executive Summary House Energy and Commerce Committee Democrats introduced the Climate Leadership and Environmental Action for our Nation’s (CLEAN) Future Act in an effort to achieve economy-wide net zero emissions by 2050. To address power-sector emissions, the bill relies on…
Research
The Cost of Clean Generation
Executive Summary The Biden Administration’s Nationally Determined Contribution submission to the United Nations climate agreement calls for all carbon emissions to be removed from electricity generation by 2035. Democratic leadership of the House Energy and Commerce Committee has introduced the…
Research
The Cost of Upgrading Electricity Transmission
Executive Summary The Biden Administration’s goal for the United States to generate 100 percent carbon pollution-free electricity by 2035 will require significant modifications to the transmission system. Congressional Democrats’ Climate Leadership and Environmental Action for our Nation’s (CLEAN) Future Act…
Research
The Cost of Upgrading Electric Distribution
Executive Summary The Biden Administration committed the United States to generating carbon pollution-free electricity by 2035 in its submission under the Paris Climate Agreement—a commitment that will require modifying electrical distribution systems. Distribution systems deliver electricity to consumers, and these…
Insight
FSOC Recognizes Climate Change as an Emerging Threat to the Financial System
Executive Summary The Financial Stability Oversight Council (FSOC) released its Report on Climate-Related Financial Risk as part of a larger effort by the Biden Administration to institute climate change analyses throughout the executive branch. FSOC’s report recommends practices to its…
Insight
How the BBBA’s Union Labor Requirements Undermine Its Climate Goals
Executive Summary As part of President Biden’s climate change mitigation strategy, the Build Back Better Act (BBBA) includes tax credits for electric vehicle (EV) purchases and for green energy production. These credits come with union labor requirements and could have a dramatic impact on the labor market for EVs and clean energy production, including in right-to-work states. …
Insight
Climate Implications of the BBBA’s EV Provisions
Executive Summary The Biden Administration has called for the increased adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) as part of its climate change agenda. The Build Back Better Act includes provisions that incentivize the adoption of EVs through tax credits which are…
