Federal Government Establishes New Climate Objectives for the U.S.

December 20, 2024 TruthUSA

A new commitment has been established under the 2015 Paris Agreement, from which President-elect Trump has indicated he will withdraw the United States once he assumes office.

The federal government has officially submitted a revised target to the United Nations for reducing U.S. greenhouse gas emissions before President Joe Biden’s term concludes in January.

On December 19, the White House announced its goal to decrease greenhouse gas emissions by 61 to 66 percent from the 2005 baseline by 2035, a significant increase from the prior target of a 50 percent reduction by 2030.

This new target, referred to as a Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), is designed to keep the U.S. on track “to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions, economy-wide, by no later than 2050,” according to a White House fact sheet.

Outgoing President Biden expressed pride in his administration’s efforts, stating in a video message that it represents the most ambitious climate agenda in American history.

The administration also plans to cut U.S. methane emissions by at least 35 percent by 2035 to fulfill its new climate commitment.

John Podesta, senior adviser to Biden on international climate policy, informed reporters on December 19 that meeting the new climate target will necessitate collaboration from governors, mayors, and business leaders.

“We are committed to cutting pollution across all sectors—power generation, buildings, transport, industry, agriculture, and forestry—and have sparked a clean energy revolution nationwide,” he mentioned during a press call.

Podesta noted that while the incoming Trump administration may deprioritize climate initiatives, he is optimistic that “the efforts to combat climate change will persist in the United States” with commitments from all sectors.

“Thanks to a strategy led by the private sector with government support, our investments under this administration remain robust and will yield benefits for our economy and climate for many years ahead, allowing us to establish an ambitious yet realistic 2035 target,” he conveyed to reporters.

The NDC is part of the 2015 Paris Agreement, which mandates countries to report their greenhouse gas emissions every five years.

Trump withdrew the U.S. from this agreement during his previous term in 2019, arguing it would result in “a significant transfer of American wealth to foreign nations that contribute most to global pollution.” Biden rejoined the accord upon taking office in 2021.

The president-elect has indicated during the 2024 election campaign that he intends to once again withdraw the United States from the Paris Agreement and boost oil and gas production.

Debbie Weyl, acting director for the nonprofit environmental organization World Resource Institute, stated that the new climate target gives states and businesses a clear path to enhance pollution reduction efforts over the next four years.

“[I]t provides a guiding principle for what the U.S. should strive towards and could help steer the federal government’s focus once Trump leaves office in 2029,” Weyl mentioned in a statement.

The Paris Agreement was negotiated in 2015 during President Barack Obama’s tenure. According to the agreement, no country can officially withdraw until three years after entering the pact. Countries are required to give written notice and can only be marked as withdrawn one year after that notice is submitted.

In 2019, Trump stated that the agreement was “one-sided” and “a complete disaster” for the United States, citing the disproportionate economic burden it imposed on American businesses.

He claimed that the agreement “would have forced American producers to shut down with onerous regulatory restrictions, allowing foreign producers to pollute freely.”

The Epoch Times has sought comments from the Trump transition team.

Zachary Stieber and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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