The report, “Policy implications of deep decarbonization in the United States” describes the economic and policy implications of deep decarbonization in the United States.
Conducted by the Deep Decarbonization Pathways Project (DDPP), the report is a “collaborative global initiative to explore how individual countries can reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions,” consistent with the Paris Agreement to keep global mean temperatures below 2°C.
To achieve this goal, it will require high reductions in CO2 emissions through the transformation of energy systems referred to as “deep decarbonisation” by the DDPP.
Based on a detailed year by year analysis of the changes in the physical infrastructure needed to attain deep decarbonization by the middle of this century.
The main objective of this report focuses on climate policy towards the practical implementation of these targets. Starting with the US energy system, the report shows the physical and economic requirements of transition to decarbonisation while providing insights on the challenges and opportunities of this transition across sectors, industries, and levels of government.
The report’s analysis shows that deep decarbonisation is not only feasible and economically affordable, but there are also numerous pathways to achieve the 2050 emissions target using existing technologies at a net cost of about 1% of the US GDP.
The report presents a “paradox” to what people believe about deep decarbonisation – that it will cause disruptive lifestyle changes, reduce energy series, higher costs, and presents a risk to the economy.
The analysis shows that the energy system’s transformation because of climate change will bring in opportunities to create a system that still supports energy demands with very little difference in net cost but without the negative consequences of the current system to the environment, economy, and society as a whole.
So, people should have higher expectations of decarbonised energy systems instead and not lower ones, as the report states.
To read the entire report, CLICK on the link below:
Source citation:
Williams, J.H., B. Haley, R. Jones (2015). Policy implications of deep decarbonization in the United States. A report of the Deep Decarbonization Pathways Project of the Sustainable Development Solutions Network and the Institute for Sustainable Development and International Relations. Nov 17, 2015. Retrieved from http://usddpp.org/downloads/2015-report-on-policy-implications.pdf
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