China’s Response to Climate Change: A Study in Contrasts and a Policy at a Crossroads

China is the world’s leading emitter of heat-trapping gases, by far. In 2019, Chinese emissions were greater than emissions from the United States, the European Union, and Japan combined. There is no solution to climate change without China.

China’s response to climate change is a study in contrasts. China leads the world in solar power, wind power, and electric vehicle deployment, but also in coal consumption. The Chinese government has adopted some of the world’s most ambitious energy efficiency and forest conservation policies, but is financing a significant expansion of coal-fired power plant capacity at home and abroad. China’s leaders …

Mobilizing for a zero carbon America: Jobs, jobs, jobs, and more jobs

From mass unemployment to the threat of climate change, the U.S. will face a number of seemingly unprecedented challenges even after the current public health tragedy has passed. Finding needed solutions won’t be easy and will require creative thinking, robust analysis, and political resolve. The good news is that these challenges also present opportunities, particularly in terms of the economic development and job creation associated with decarbonizing America’s economy.

Based on an extensive industrial and engineering analysis, our new report demonstrates that an aggressive national commitment to electrify all aspects of our economy would create up to 25 million good-paying …

Global Nuclear Market Assessment Based on IPCC Global Warming of 1.5° C Report

A new report from the consulting firm UxC projects that if the United States supplies nuclear energy equipment and technology to support a share of the IPCC’s projected requirement for new nuclear power, U.S. export revenues could range between $1.3 trillion and $1.9 trillion.

UxC analyzed global and regional nuclear power outlooks to 2050 based on scenarios presented in the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) October 2018 report, Global Warming of 1.5°C.

U.S. nuclear suppliers have opportunities in new reactors of conventional as well as small and advanced designs, maintaining and fueling the global fleet of reactors, …

Border Adjustments in a Carbon Tax

The paper reviews the principles of border adjustment, the principal design choices policymakers would face when establishing a border adjustment for a carbon tax, and the implications of different design choices. It also provides a high-level overview of border adjustments proposed in the carbon tax bills pending in the U.S. Congress. The paper concludes with some recommendations for border adjustment design and questions for future research.…

Green Stimulus for Oil and Gas Workers: Considering a Major Federal Effort to Plug Orphaned and Abandoned Wells

The global economic damages wrought by COVID-19 have dramatically magnified the suffering caused by the deadly virus. US lawmakers have already approved $3 trillion in aid to help offset the economic damage, and additional measures are under consideration. At the same time, the need to invest trillions in economic recovery has prompted calls to “build back better” by making the recovery a greener, less carbon-intensive one.

This paper, a joint effort between Resources for the Future and the Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia University, examines the potential to boost US employment in the oil and gas workforce while …

The carbon footprint of household energy use in the United States

Residential energy use accounts for roughly 20% of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the United States. Using data on 93 million individual households, we estimate these GHGs across the contiguous United States and clarify the respective influence of climate, affluence, energy infrastructure, urban form, and building attributes (age, housing type, heating fuel) in driving these emissions. A ranking by state reveals that GHGs (per unit floor space) are lowest in Western US states and highest in Central states. Wealthier Americans have per capita footprints ∼25% higher than those of lower-income residents, primarily due to larger homes. In especially affluent suburbs, …

C40 Mayors Agenda for a Green and Just Recovery

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to unfold and health concerns remain paramount, cities are already taking the first steps towards recovery. Through the Global Mayors COVID-19 Recovery Task Force, leading city mayors have committed to providing the swiftest and strongest possible rebound for their citizens in line with the principles of the Global Green New Deal. Their collective vision is set out in a new report, C40 Mayors’ Agenda for a Green and Just Recovery. Alongside it, we’ve assembled expert views and ambitious ideas from around the world. Beyond simply underpinning the Agenda itself, these articles also provide guides for …

Planning for the Electric System of the Future: The Path to a More Resilient Energy Grid

The Critical Consumer Issues Forum (CCIF) today released a new report, “Planning for the Electric System of the Future: The Path to a More Resilient Energy Grid.” The report was released at a virtual event during which participants shared their insights and takeaways from CCIF’s year-long dialogue on the important topic of energy grid resilience. CCIF is a collaborative that includes members of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC), the National Association of State Utility Consumer Advocates (NASUCA), and the Edison Electric Institute (EEI), who work together to develop solutions to meet customer needs.

CCIF’s latest report features …

Solar Under Storm for Policymakers

Following hurricanes Harvey, Irma, Maria, and more recently Dorian, Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) and Clinton Climate Initiative (CCI) sent teams to the Caribbean to evaluate the root failures of solar PV systems and key success factors of systems that survived. The teams then developed a list of recommendations to increase system resilience.

One of the key recommendations is to ensure inclusive multi-stakeholder collaboration. This entails communicating clear market signals to suppliers and upstream equipment providers and coordinating closely among practitioners and installers. In addition to collaboration, codes and regulations should be amended and performance standards created or revised for procurement. …

Decarbonizing Colorado: Evaluating Cap and Trade Programs to Meet Colorado’s Emissions Targets

Additional policies are required to achieve CO’s 2025 and 2030 targets, and an economy-wide cap-and-trade program is likely to cost significantly less than sector-specific strategies. Giving firms flexibility in determining when they reduce their emissions through a system of banking emission allowances will promote cost-effectiveness. Allowing the use of offsets can reduce the burden of achieving emissions on firms covered by the policy by allowing for emissions in uncovered sectors of the economy. Linking Colorado’s cap-and-trade program with the Western Climate Initiative would provide even greater program flexibility and significantly reduce the cost of meeting Colorado’s climate targets (though linking