Full Title: AMERICAN CLEAN REVOLUTION: From Dialogue to Action
Author(s): The Climate Group
Publisher(s): The Climate Group
Publication Date: September 1, 2012
Full Text: Download Resource
Description (excerpt):
In the lead up to last year’s Climate Week NYC, we made the case that a rapid transition to a clean economy was the only path to long-term prosperity for the United States. We supported our case with five reasons for an American Clean Revolution, including: 1) growing the economy, 2) boosting international competitiveness, 3) increasing security, 4) improving critical infrastructure and 5) avoiding the costs associated with more extreme weather. And we showed that this view is shared by a diverse cross-section of American society, including military officers, business executives, doctors, farmers, faith leaders and more.
Progress towards this transition has been made in recent years. Since 2005, US greenhouse gas emissions have fallen by 7% and US renewable energy capacity has more than doubled. Pioneering climate policies have been adopted at the US state level. And newly proposed greenhouse gas regulations at the federal level promise further reductions in the years to come.
But these actions won’t be enough to meet the US’ long term emission reduction goals. Despite the recent decline, US emissions are set to rise again this year and steadily in the future if further action isn’t taken.