United States
The United States rises three ranks to 52nd, still an overall very low, in the latest CCPI. The US receives a very low in the GHG Emissions, Renewable Energy, and Energy Use categories, though rates a medium in Climate Policy.
New Targets and Policies under the Biden administration
The US under the Biden administration has announced many new targets and policies for climate action. As part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, $90 billion will be spent on public transport, $21 billion on environmental projects, $7.5 billion on electric vehicles, and $65 billion on power infrastructure, including the electrical grid’s adjustment to renewable energy.
The US has a net-zero target for 2050 and plans to phase out unabated coal plants by 2035. President Biden announced a new target of, by 2030, achieving a 50–52% emissions reduction from 2005 levels in GHG pollution. And the administration plans to plant 2.5 billion trees.
Implementation needs to speed up
Overall, the CCPI country experts welcome the US government’s new commitments. They note the obstructing role the Republican opposition plays in climate politics. However, the experts criticise that some policies lack a mandatory character, and implementation will not be quick enough. The main shortcoming described is that the US will not halt domestic fossil fuel extraction, and there are still fossil fuel subsidies in place.
The US is among the 20 countries with the largest developed oil and gas reserves. It is also among the nine countries responsible for 90% of global coal production. Additionally, the US plans to increase its gas and coal production by more than 5% by 2030. This is not compatible with the 1.5°C target.
The main demands the experts expressed are to phase out fossil fuel subsidies and extraction quickly and to increase renewable energy.
In international climate policy, the US is playing an important role in launching and supporting important international climate partnerships (such as the Global Methane Pledge and Just Energy Transition Partnership).
Key Outcomes
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CCPI experts
The following national experts agreed to be mentioned as contributors for this year’s CCPI:
