Making Progress on President Obama’s Climate Action Plan
In 2013, President Obama announced the Climate Action Plan (CAP), the first comprehensive plan of the United States to address climate change. The CAP outlines 75 climate-related goals and respective actions that are subsumed under three pillars: mitigation, adaptation and international cooperation.
There has been marked progress on many items in the CAP over the last two years. Major success factors include the high-level political ownership, the long-term nature of the plan, the strategic approach behind the plan, and its high visibility at the national and international level.
The CAP sends a strong signal for a new climate agreement to be reached in Paris in 2015.
Provision of a focal point for climate action: The Climate Action Plan bundles Federal and State initiatives developed under the Administration, and establishes a focal point for climate action throughout the country. The initiatives expand or refine already existing policies and programmes and develop additional ones. In this context, the CAP also represents a platform where important information comes together and is again distributed through different networks at the federal and state level.
Accounting for the two major sources of GHG emissions in the United States: The largest source of GHG emissions in the United States is the power sector, which accounts for roughly one third of all domestic emissions. The proposed standards for new and existing power plants are expected to reduce emissions from the power sector in the range of 32% by 2030. The second largest source of emissions is the transportation sector. New fuel economy standards put forward under the CAP (applying to light-duty vehicles for model years 2017 through 2025) are expected to reduce emissions in the range of 2 billion metric tons by 2025. By accounting for these two major sources of emissions, the CAP puts the country on track to achieve its international emission reduction pledges.
Promoting partnerships with states, local communities, and the private sector: The CAP explicitly calls for collaborative efforts from states, local communities, and the private sector. In the case of the CPP, for example, States are asked to develop state-specific implementation plans in coordination with the power companies. In the transportation sector, the CAP summons the administration to leverage public-private partnerships to deploy cleaner fuels and to work with state and local authorities to improve transportation options.
Driving the transition to a low-carbon economy: The initiatives outlined in the CAP lay the foundation for many of the key drivers of low-carbon economic growth, including more efficient use of energy and natural resources, smart infrastructure investments, and technological innovation. As a consequence, these low-carbon investments reduce total energy consumption, cut down energy costs for households and businesses, create new job opportunities, and improve public health.
- President and his administration (lead)
- Governmental departments and agencies: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); Department of Energy (DOE); Department of Transportation (DOT)/ National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA); Department of Agriculture (USDA); Department of the Interior (DOI)
- Industry leaders: partnership between the dairy industry and USDA