THE D^2S AGENDA

“If solutions within this system are so impossible to find, then maybe we should change the system itself.” This is the message of Greta Thunberg and the youth activists around the world demanding climate action. It is simple and powerful. Yet few global efforts are dedicated to making it happen – to changing the systems that are inhibiting transformative climate actions.

Most climate mitigation strategies approach the climate crisis principally as a carbon management problem, focusing on reducing emissions by sector (e.g. energy, transport, or food). Sector-based emissions reduction work is critical, but it is not sufficient. This is because, …

The Drawdown Review

Since the 2017 publication of the New York Times bestseller, Drawdown, the organization has emerged as a leading resource for information and insight about climate solutions. We continue to develop that resource by conducting rigorous review and assessment of climate solutions, creating compelling and human communication across mediums, and partnering with efforts to accelerate climate solutions globally.

Cities, universities, corporations, philanthropies, policymakers, communities, and more turn to Project Drawdown, as they look to advance effective climate action. We aim to support the growing constellation of efforts to move climate solutions forward and move the world toward Drawdown—as quickly, safely, and …

How Clean is “Refined Coal”? An Empirical Assessment of a Billion-Dollar Tax Credit

US tax law provides nearly $1 billion annually in tax credits for “refined coal”, which is supposed to reduce local air pollution. Eligibility for the credit requires firms to demonstrate legally specified emissions reductions for three pollutants. Firms typically demonstrate eligibility through laboratory tests, but results from the lab can differ from those in practice. Using a nationally comprehensive boiler-level panel dataset, we find that emission reductions in practice are only about half of the levels required. We also show that the policy reduces social welfare. Because the tax credit is up for reauthorization in 2021, our work has immediate …

Investment Tax Credits for Hydrogen Storage

Hydrogen in the Energy Storage Tax Incentive and Deployment Act of 2019

The Energy Storage Tax Incentive and Deployment Act of 2019, introduced by Representative Mike Doyle as H.R. 2096 and by Senator Martin Heinrich as S. 1142, would have extended the 30 percent energy investment tax credit to energy storage technologies, “equipment which receives, stores, and delivers energy.” With hydrogen among the technologies specified, the act would have had the potential to (1) motivate the utilization of hydrogen to store and deliver power and (2) reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from hydrogen production. This tax credit was not included …

Adapting Existing Energy Planning, Simulation, and Operational Models for Resilience Analysis

Resilience is a topic receiving much attention in relation to energy systems, with particular attention being paid to the supply of electricity. Within the context of the electricity system, definitions of resilience encompass holistic concepts that emphasize preparing for, absorbing, adapting to, and recovering from interruptions in electricity supply (White House 2013; DHS 2013; Hotchkiss and Dane 2019; Watson et al. 2014; Stankovic and Tomsovic 2018). Recent research has focused on understanding the resilience of the electricity sector to a core set of disruptions, which reflects (1) the economy’s increased dependence on electricity, (2) multiple emerging threats to the system …

Ride-Hailing’s Climate Risks

Ride-hailing is an attractive option for many travelers, and can increase mobility for households who lack a private vehicle. Yet in communities across the country, ride-hailing is increasing vehicle travel, climate pollution, and congestion.

The explosive growth of ride-hailing services, including Uber and Lyft, is increasing climate pollution and urban congestion. As the climate crisis becomes even more urgent, it is more important than ever for the ride-hailing industry to contribute to a lower carbon, more sustainable transportation system.

Our analysis shows that ride-hailing trips today result in an estimated 69 percent more climate pollution on average than the trips …

A Security Threat Assessment of Global Climate Change

In a comprehensive report released by the “National Security, Military and Intelligence Panel (NSMIP)” of the Center for Climate and Security, experts warn of High-to-Catastrophic threats to security from plausible climate change trajectories – the avoidance of which will require “quickly reducing and phasing out global greenhouse gas emissions.”

The panel, made up of national security, military and intelligence experts, analyzed the globe through the lens of the U.S. Geographic Combatant Commands, and concluded that:

“Even at scenarios of low warming, each region of the world will face severe risks to national and global security in the next three decades. …

Expert Dialogue: A Realistic Strategy for Climate Change

“To tackle a topic as monumental and divisive as climate change, it will take a politically realistic and technologically inclusive agenda built on advancing clean power around the world,” said Darren Goode, Communication Director for ClearPath, a nonprofit organization that develops and advances policies that accelerate clean energy innovation.

OurEnergyPolicy’s community of energy professionals weighed in on this topic in an online discussion. They provided various perspectives on policies and actions that could successfully address climate change and generate bipartisan agreement. This document features excerpts from that discussion. Follow hyperlinks to view full comments and expert profiles. Read the entire …

Expert Dialogue: A Framework for the Green Real Deal

“The principles of the Green Real Deal are designed to foster a broad coalition and turn climate ambitions into meaningful action,” said Ernest Moniz, former Secretary of Energy, now CEO of the Energy Futures Initiative. “The Green New Deal, a congressional resolution,… while it has helped shine an important spotlight on the climate crisis, elements of the resolution—such as going to zero carbon in a 10-year time frame—are largely impractical…. The principles of the Green Real Deal are designed to foster a broad coalition and turn climate ambitions into meaningful actions.”

OurEnergyPolicy’s community of energy professionals discussed Dr. Moniz’s Green …

Regional Clean Energy Innovation

The Energy Futures Initiative (EFI) commissioned this report by the University of Maryland to enhance our understanding of U.S. innovation at the regional level, providing a foundation for policymakers and researchers to strategically expand and accelerate regional clean energy technology innovation. This report assembles and aligns U.S. clean energy innovation data at the subnational level. The data reveals trends in regional clean energy innovation, providing a baseline of activities for all 50 states. The report builds on this baseline with a bottom-up case study assessment of clean energy innovation in two states with contrasting energy innovation conditions, Colorado and Maryland; …