United States
The United States is among the very low performing countries, remaining at 57th in the current CCPI. The US receives a very low rating for GHG Emissions, Energy Use, and Renewable Energy, and a medium for Climate Policy.
The current US administration has, however, committed to reducing GHG emissions by 50–52% by 2030 and achieving net zero by 2050. There has been an increase in wind and solar power capacity (e.g. from 95 GW of solar at the end of 2023 to 131 GW by the end of 2024) since the Biden administration’s Inflation Reduction Act, which has resulted in massive investments and incentives. However, there is no federal target for phasing out fossil fuels.
Fossil Projects Remain Problematic
US biofuel production is rising. In 2023, 23.8 billion gallons were produced, up 1.7 billion gallons compared with 2022. Biomass provided about 5% of the United States’ energy in 2023. The country is among the top 10 wood exporters and the CCPI national experts assert that the US must regulate logging in old-growth forests more strictly. President Biden issued an executive order to ban new fossil fuel projects on public land, but this does not affect private lands. The CCPI experts criticise the ongoing fossil fuel extraction subsidies. The US is among the 10 countries with the largest developed oil, coal, and gas reserves, and it currently plans to increase its gas and oil production.
The lack of congressional majorities for stringent emissions reduction policies limits the federal government, but several states and local governments have adopted local climate policies, such as carbon taxes.
At the international level, the Inflation Reduction Act set a strong example on clean energy and transportation policies, also influencing, for example, EU policies.
The experts look for the US to continue investing in renewable energy and clean transportation. They also demand a stop to all fossil fuel subsidies and a ban on new fossil fuel extraction on public and private lands. Donald Trump’s return to the presidency is likely to have a negative impact on US climate policy and, as a result, the US is expected to perform worse in the next edition of the CCPI.
Key Outcomes
- The United States is among the very low performing countries, remaining at 57th in the current CCPI
- There has been an increase in wind and solar power capacity since the Biden administration’s Inflation Reduction Act, which has resulted in massive investments and incentives
- Key demands: continue investing in renewable energy and clean transportation, a stop to all fossil fuel subsidies and a ban on new fossil fuel extraction on public and private lands
CCPI Experts
- CF Energy Research & Consulting UG
