"In 2015, the United States agreed to slash its greenhouse gas emissions as part of the Paris climate accord. Then it elected Donald Trump as president.
That experience raises the question of whether the U.S. can follow through on President Biden's ambitious pledge to halve emissions in the next decade.
There are several reasons to think America is different today. Wind and solar costs continue to fall dramatically, opening the door to a greening of the power sector that once seemed unimaginable. Investors are badgering companies to decarbonize their businesses. And Biden, at the dawn of his presidency, appears poised to spend precious political capital to advance his climate agenda.
Yet other challenges remain as formidable as ever. The economic currents that have helped reduce U.S. emissions by roughly 20% over the last 15 years can only carry the country's climate ambitions so far. The International Energy Agency reckons U.S. emissions will fall an additional 10% by 2030 if the country maintains its current course."
Benjamin Storrow reports for E&E News April 26, 2021.
SEE ALSO:
"The Giant Accounting Problem That Could Hamper The World’s Push To Cut Emissions" (Washington Post)
"Biden’s Bet on a Climate Transition Carries Big Risks" (New York Times)
"Biden’s Climate Summit Sets Up a Bigger Test of American Power" (New York Times)
Advertisement 
