United States

The United States falls eight spots to 65th and remains a very low performing country in the CCPI, now near the bottom of ranking. The US receives very low ratings across the board, for GHG Emissions, Renewable Energy, Climate Policy, and Energy Use.

With the second Donald Trump presidency, there has been a large-scale rollback of climate policies at the national and international levels, as Trump denies human-made climate change.  Nationally, key policies supporting renewable energy build-up and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction have been revoked alongside promotion of fossil fuel expansion. Key support schemes from the Inflation Reduction Act, such as the Environmental Protection Agency’s Solar for All program and clean energy tax credits, have been rescinded or weakened. Trump also has rolled back energy efficiency standards for appliances, the Energy Star program, and Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) vehicle standards. He has also withdrawn from the Paris agreement, blocking climate policy internationally and openly opposing global climate initiatives.

Market interest and state policies offering hope in renewables amid all the backsliding

Despite these setbacks, the CCPI country experts see a positive in the continued growth of renewable energy, largely driven by market forces and state-level policies. In 2024, renewable power generation exceeded 756 GWh, making up 17% of total US electricity generation. Biomass accounted for ~2% of renewable electricity, with 5 GW of installed capacity, while the US remained a net exporter of wood pellets. The experts differentiate between the efforts of the federal government and state governments. Some states with Democratic party-led governments, such as New York and California, still have policies in place to combat climate change and legislators strive to protect these from national-level policies and decrees through the U.S. Climate Alliance.

The country 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.

In the non-energy sector, progress depends heavily on state initiatives. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has supported tree planting and natural regeneration, and some peatland restoration efforts exist in states such as North Carolina and Minnesota. However, the experts criticise the rescinded national funding streams for sustainable farming and land restoration provided under the IRA. There is no clear federal strategy for agriculture, forestry, and peatlands. The efforts are fragmented at the state level.

The experts stress that state-level action and private investment remain crucial for maintaining momentum and mitigating the damaging effects of federal rollbacks. Continued renewable expansion, preservation of efficiency gains, and strong state-level governance are essential until national climate leadership can be restored.

Key Outcomes

CCPI experts

The following national experts agreed to be mentioned as contributors for this year’s CCPI:

• CF Energy Research & Consulting UG