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Ask a Scientist: The US Has to Do More to Meet Its Carbon Emissions Reduction Goals

Union of Concerned Scientists

However, several analyses—including a recent one by the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS)—have concluded that the IRA, even when coupled with the bipartisan infrastructure act and other federal and state climate policies, will not be enough to meet US carbon emission reduction goals. EN: We have already seen a great deal of progress.

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How Are Lithium-ion Batteries that Store Solar and Wind Power Made?

Union of Concerned Scientists

Batteries can also be used to assist with peak electricity demand; currently instead of batteries, fossil fuel-powered “peaker plants” are often used to supply energy during high-demand periods. Despite being used infrequently, these plants are inefficient and highly polluting, and contribute to US carbon emissions.

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New York City Planning Commission Approves Zoning Changes Supporting City’s Climate Goals

E2 Law Blog

11, 2023, the City Planning Commission approved amendments to the New York City Zoning Resolution, called “City of Yes for Carbon Neutrality,” proposed by Mayor Adams’ administration to advance the city’s climate goals, including an 80% reduction in carbon emissions by 2050.

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Wind-powered Cargo Vessel Holds Hope for a Greener Future

Ocean Conservancy

While a wind-powered cargo vessel may seem like a 19 th Century idea, the Grain de Sail may be a herald of a greener future rather than a nostalgic nod to the past. This could be established alongside other technical measures like a low-carbon standard for shipping fuel to improve uptake of zero-emission fuels.

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Analysis: Is hydrogen the new oil?

A Greener Life

There is talk that a global “hydrogen economy” can emerge to save the climate from carbon emissions. Hydrogen could power trucks, ships and planes and be used to produce everything from cement to steel and fertiliser. Hydrogen may have lost, to electricity, the competition to power the next generation of personal vehicles.

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IPCC report urges for action to limit global warming to 1.5C

Edouard Stenger

LED bulbs are just one example among many on how doing more with less has a lot of potential as it is estimated that 570 million tons of carbon emissions have been prevented in 2017 alone by the adoption of more efficient lights. This represent huge amounts of land, energy, time, water and other resources that just go to waste.

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How Much Land Would it Require to Get Most of Our Electricity from Wind and Solar?

Union of Concerned Scientists

Acknowledging that the United States is a leading contributor to carbon emissions, the Biden administration has committed to cutting US emissions 50 to 52 percent below 2005 levels by 2030. By contrast, the land-use impacts of wind and solar projects tend to be short-term and reversible.