NEW: Analysis Showcases Pathway For US To Reduce Carbon Emissions At Least 50 Percent By 2030

READ OUR NEW FACT SHEET HERE

WASHINGTON, DC -- Today, in advance of the new US Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) to the Paris Agreement, the Sierra Club released a fact sheet showing a path for the US to reduce emissions at least 50 percent below 2005 levels by 2030. The fact sheet -- which offers a sector-by-sector analysis of the coal, oil, fracked gas, clean energy, and clean transportation industries -- underscores how advocates have created emissions reductions that outweighed what analysts predicted. Ultimately, the fact sheet shows that it is achievable and necessary for the US to commit to an NDC of reducing emissions at least 50 percent by 2030.

“For decades, the Sierra Club’s advocacy has driven progress and helped to tackle the climate crisis by retiring coal-fired power plants, blocking fracked gas and tar sands pipelines, demanding cities transition to 100 percent clean energy, driving momentum for zero-emission vehicles, protecting millions of acres of public lands, and more,” said Cherelle Blazer, the Sierra Club’s International Climate and Policy Campaign Director. “It is because of our collective work with allies across the movement that we still have a fighting chance to avert the worst effects of the climate crisis. President Biden must begin to meet the urgency of the moment by announcing a commitment to reduce emissions at least 50 percent by 2030. In President Biden’s own words, ‘We’ve already waited too long to deal with this climate crisis and we can’t wait any longer.’”

Since the Paris Agreement was signed in 2015, it’s become even more clear that rapid action is required to avert climate catastrophe. One degree Celsius of warming has intensified extreme storms and fires, claiming lives, homes, and sometimes entire communities. The 2018 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report confirmed at the time that we only have until 2030 before our carbon budget is completely spent. 

On his first day in office, President Biden started the process of rejoining the Paris Agreement, and has called the climate crisis the “number one issue facing humanity.” 

Experts are available for interview upon request. 

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Join our webinar where our experts will discuss the factsheet Thursday, April 15 at 11 a.m. ET at https://www.facebook.com/SierraClub  

Read our new blog on the factsheet here.

Read our factsheet on the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) here.