By White House | on 25 March 2017
- President Obama on America’s Clean Power Plan
- Cut Carbon Pollution
- Reducing Carbon Pollution in US Power Plants
- Fuel Efficiency Standards of Medium and Heavy-Duty Vehicles
- The American Business Act on Climate Pledge
- Historic Action to Reduce Methane Emissions for the Oil and Gas Sector
- Actions to Cut Methane Emissions from Municipal Solid Waste Landfills
- Commitments and Robust Progress to Address Potent Greenhouse Gases
- Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions in the Federal Government and Across the Supply Chain
- Improving Measurement, Mitigation and Resilience of our Natural Resources
- S. Mid-Century Strategy for Deep Decarbonization
- Expanded the Clean Energy Economy
- Mobilizing $4 Billion in Private-Sector Support for Homegrown Clean-Energy Innovation
- President Obama Announces New Actions to Bring Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency to Households across the Country
- Obama Administration Announces Clean Energy Savings for All Americans Initiative
- New Actions to Bring Clean Energy Savings to All Americans
- S. Department of Energy: Property-Assessed Clean Energy Programs
- USDA Invested Hundreds of Millions of Dollars to Help Hundreds of Small Businesses Improve Energy Efficiency, Adopt Renewable Energy Systems
- President Obama’s 21st Century Clean Transportation System
- Obama Administration Announces New Actions to Accelerate The Deployment of Electrical Vehicles and Charging Infrastructure
- New Agenda To Modernize Energy
- Led Global Efforts on Climate Change
- S. Leadership in Securing First-Ever Global Carbon Emissions Standards for Commercial Airplanes
- United States Support for Global Efforts to Combat Carbon Pollution and Build Resilience
- United States and Other Countries to Work Together on Phase Down of HFCs
- S.-Brazil Joint Statement on Climate Change
- S.-Indonesia Climate Cooperation
- S. and India Climate and Clean Energy Cooperation
- S.-Canada Joint Statement on Climate, Energy, and Arctic Leadership
- Expanding Climate Risk Insurance in Developing Countries
- Unleashing Data and Tools to Boost Climate Resilience in India
- Executive Order -- Climate-Resilient International Development
- Protected Our Climate, Our Air, and Our Water
- President Obama Announces Historic 54.5 mpg Fuel Efficiency Standard
- Cut Energy Waste
- Prepared Our Communities for the Impacts of Climate Change
- National Disaster Resilience Competition
- The National Climate Assessment Explained in Less than 3 Minutes
- Building National Capabilities for Long-Term Drought Resilience
- Using Green Infrastructure to Enhance Coastal Resilience
- Protected Treasured Natural Resources
- IUU FISHING AND SEAFOOD FRAUD WEB PORTAL
- Executive Order — Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration
President Obama believes that no challenge poses a greater threat to our children, our planet, and future generations than climate change — and that no other country on Earth is better equipped to lead the world towards a solution.
That’s why under President Obama’s leadership, the United States has done more to combat climate change than ever before, while growing the economy. In fact, since the President took office, carbon emissions have decreased 9 percent, while the U.S. economy grew more than 10 percent.
Cut Carbon Pollution
Established the first-ever national carbon pollution standards for power plants, the largest source of carbon pollution in our country. The Clean Power Plan gives states flexible, cost-effective tools to cut carbon pollution from these plants by 32% from 2005 levels by 2030, while preventing thousands of premature deaths and tens of thousands of childhood asthma attacks by reducing dangerous co-pollutants.
Reducing Carbon Pollution in Our Power Plants
Reducing Carbon Pollution in Our Power Plants → https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=li1aHjjqh3w
Set standards that will nearly double the fuel economy of passenger vehicles by 2025 and established ground-breaking fuel economy standards for medium and heavy-duty trucks.
Together, these standards will avoid more than 8 billion tons of carbon pollution while saving families and businesses nearly $2 trillion over the lives of the vehicles.
Remarks by the President on Fuel Efficiency Standards of Medium and Heavy-Duty Vehicles, February 19, 2014
"And improving gas mileage for these trucks are going to drive down our oil imports even further. That reduces carbon pollution even more, cuts down on businesses’ fuel costs, which should pay off in lower prices for consumers. So it’s not just a win-win, it’s a win-win-win."
Set new energy-efficiency standards for appliances and equipment, which have cut consumers’ electricity bills by hundreds of billions of dollars. Taken together, the final energy conservation standards completed during this Administration will avoid 2.5 billion metric tons of carbon emissions by 2030.
Memo on Appliance Efficiency Standards
Launched the American Business Act on Climate Pledge, with major American companies voicing support for a strong international climate agreement in Paris and making major new commitments to cut carbon pollution, boost clean energy, and increase low-carbon investment.
As of the latest round of pledges in December 2015, 154 businesses — with operations in all 50 states, employing nearly 11 million people, representing more than $4.2 trillion in annual revenue, and $7 trillion in market capitalization— are committed to support the Paris climate process.
White House Announces Additional Commitments to The American Business Act on Climate Pledge
Developed and are implementing a strategy to reduce methane emissions, including new standards to cut emissions from new sources of oil and gas development and landfills, taking the first step to regulate existing sources in the oil and gas sector, and provided support for new technologies to detect and measure methane emissions
The EPA announced proposed standards to directly reduce methane emissions from the oil and gas sector to help address climate change:
Administration Takes Historic Action to Reduce Methane Emissions for the Oil and Gas Sector
EPA.gov: EPA Issues Final Actions to Cut Methane Emissions from Municipal Solid Waste Landfills
Announced two rounds of private-sector commitments and executive actions that will slash U.S. reliance on HFCs and reduce cumulative global consumption of these greenhouse gases by the equivalent of more than 1 billion metric tons of CO2 through 2025.
FACT SHEET: Obama Administration and Private-Sector Leaders Announce Ambitious Commitments and Robust Progress to Address Potent Greenhouse Gases
Reduced the Federal Government’s greenhouse gas emissions by more than 17 percent and set a new aggressive goal of reducing Federal emissions by 40 percent from 2008 levels by 2025
FACT SHEET: Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions in the Federal Government and Across the Supply Chain
Collaborated with agricultural producers to cut emissions and increase carbon sequestration in the agricultural and forestry sectors through voluntary and incentive-based measures, and improved monitoring and measurement of land-sector greenhouse gas emissions
Recognizing the role that forests and agricultural activities place in GHG emissions, in April 2015, USDA announced its Building Blocks for Climate-Smart Agriculture and Forestry—voluntary and incentive-based programs to reduce GHG emissions from agricultural production, increase carbon storage in our forests and soils, and generate clean, renewable energy. These actions will foster resilient economies and food systems, while also reducing emissions and improving environmental conditions.
Climate Change and the Land Sector: Improving Measurement, Mitigation and Resilience of our Natural Resources​
Released the U.S. Mid-Century Strategy for Deep Decarbonization alongside Canada and Mexico, setting out a long-term vision for cost-effectively decarbonizing our economy
The report, which is a key due-out of the Paris Agreement, illustrates the pathways to achieve an 80 percent economy-wide emissions reduction below 2005 levels by 2050 – consistent with the global ambition necessary to avoid the most costly climate impacts and catastrophic risks.
U.S. Mid-Century Strategy for Deep Decarbonization
Announced support for strong international climate action by more than 300 colleges and universities, who signed the American Campus Act on Climate Pledge
Get the full list of schools standing behind this pledge:
Expanded the Clean Energy Economy
Made the largest single investment in clean energy in history through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act), providing more than $90 billion in strategic clean energy investments and tax incentives to promote job creation and the deployment of low-carbon technologies, and leveraging approximately $150 billion in private and other non-federal capital for clean energy investments resulting in in dramatic increases in clean energy – with wind power tripling and solar power increasing by 30- times since the President took office.
Technology improvements in clean energy--in significant part due to Federal investment--have resulted in substantial costs reductions. Since 2008, the cost of solar has dropped 64 percent, wind 41 percent and LEDs 94 percent.
DOE’s SunShot Initiative launched in 2011 to drive down the cost of solar, and after achieving over 90% of the cost reductions towards the 2020 goal in 2016, launched a new goal with increased ambition for 2030.
And DOE’s Revolution Now report shows how far a range of key technologies have come in reducing costs and increasing deployment.
Approved the first-ever large-scale renewable energy projects on Federal public lands, and permitted more than 15 GW of renewable energy capacity approved as of 2016. Established the first program for offshore wind leasing and permitting, which Administration analysis show could produce up to 86 GW of renewable energy off our coasts by 2050.
In 2009, there were no solar projects built on public lands and no method to address industry’s growing interest in developing renewable energy projects onshore or offshore.
Today, some of the world’s largest solar projects are powering the grid from public and tribal lands; we have a blueprint for responsible solar development in the West; and we’ve institutionalized a competitive renewable energy leasing program within the Bureau of Land Management. In a span of eight years, we approved 60 commercial-scale renewable energy projects on public lands that have the potential to produce 15,500 megawatts, enough to power approximately five million American homes. That’s progress.
Established the nation’s first program for offshore wind leasing and permitting. We identified wind energy areas that will allow our nation to capture substantial energy potential, without compromising fishing, recreation, national security, or environment. In 2016, the nation’s first offshore wind farm went operational off the coast of Rhode Island, and we have awarded eleven commercial leases along the Atlantic seaboard, covering over one million acres in federal waters, which with other projects could unlock up to 86 gigawatts of offshore wind in the U.S. by 2050.
Performed energy-efficiency upgrades in nearly two million homes across the country.
In President Obama's first term, DOE and HUD completed efficiency upgrades in nearly two million homes, saving many families more than $400 on their heating and cooling bills in the first year alone.
Launched the Clean Energy Investment Initiative to expand private-sector investment in promising technologies aimed at reducing carbon pollution, including inspiring more than $4 billion in private-sector commitments and executive actions to scale up investment in clean-energy innovation.
Mobilizing $4 Billion in Private-Sector Support for Homegrown Clean-Energy Innovation
Made $1 billion in additional loan guarantee authority available and announced new guidelines for distributed energy projects utilizing innovative technologies, like rooftop solar panels with storage, and unlocked $10 billion in current loan guarantees for these technologies
FACT SHEET: President Obama Announces New Actions to Bring Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency to Households across the Country
Last year, the United States brought online as much solar energy every three weeks as it did in all of 2008, and the solar industry added jobs 10 times faster than the rest of the economy. Since the beginning of 2010, the average cost of a solar electric system has dropped by 50 percent. In fact, distributed solar prices fell 10 to 20 percent in 2014 alone and currently 44 states have pricing structures that encourage increased penetration of distributed energy resources.
Launched a new cross government partnership – the Clean Energy Savings For All Initiative to increase access to solar energy and promote energy efficiency across the United States with a particular focus on expanding access for low- and moderate- income communities and creating a more inclusive workforce.
President Obama unlocked access to Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) financing, making it easier to invest in energy efficiency and renewable energy at no up-front cost.
Watch the story of Ida Rhyne, a Baltimore resident who became the first person on her block to solar panels installed on her home thanks to this intiative.
FACT SHEET: Obama Administration Announces Clean Energy Savings for All Americans Initiative
FACT SHEET: Obama Administration Announces New Actions to Bring Clean Energy Savings to All Americans
U.S. Department of Energy: Property-Assessed Clean Energy Programs
Unlocked more than $850 million from the United States Department of Agriculture to invest in helping hundreds of small businesses improve energy efficiency, adopt renewable energy systems.
USDA Invested Hundreds of Millions of Dollars to Help Hundreds of Small Businesses Improve Energy Efficiency, Adopt Renewable Energy Systems
Expanded and modernized the electric grid through technology upgrades and permitting reforms
President Obama is committed to improving the nation’s electric grid and spurring the development of renewable energy. The Administration announced new investments in the next generation of power transmission and smart grid technology in 13 states and executive actions that will make it easier and faster to permit transmission lines.
On track to deploy 3 GW of renewable energy generation at U.S. military installations
DOD Defense Department has implemented a number of energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies, underscoring the significant and inherent connection between energy independence and national security. Our Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines are deploying innovations in energy efficient technology, operational procedures, and renewable energy to improve combat capability and extend operational reach. This includes solar panels that power mobile artillery, fuel efficient tactical vehicles, and command-and-control systems that enable commanders to extend operational reach and reduce the number of vulnerable replenishment convoys. The Army, Navy and Air Force are also deploying three gigawatts of renewable energy on their installations by 2025 – enough to power 750,000 homes.
Announced the 21st Century Clean Transportation Plan in the 2016 State of the Union, unlocked $4 billion in funding for electric vehicle fueling infrastructure, established the first national electric vehicle charging infrastructure, and partnered with the private sector to building a lasting commitment to scale up electric vehicles
FACT SHEET: President Obama’s 21st Century Clean Transportation System
Obama Administration Announces New Actions to Accelerate The Deployment of Electrical Vehicles and Charging Infrastructure
Here’s Why You Should Care About Alternative Fuel Corridors
Electric Vehicles Can Lower Emissions and Enhance Resiliency
Electric vehicles can be used to shorten or end power outages by plugging their reserves into the grid. This is the kind of innovation we need to take action on climate change — both reducing emissions and boosting climate resilience.
Established the Better Buildings Challenge to enlist cities, states, utilities, manufacturers, school districts, and businesses to improve energy efficiency, targeting heavy users such as data centers and outdoor lighting systems
President Obama’s Plan to Win the Future by Making American Businesses More Energy Efficient through the “Better Buildings Initiative”
Worked with companies, mayors, university presidents, and labor leaders to drive $4 billion of investment in energy-efficiency upgrades for public and private buildings
Chart of the Week: We’re Using More Clean Energy than Ever Before
Launched Solar Ready Vets at ten U.S. military bases to train veterans for jobs in the solar power industry
Remarks by the President on Jobs in Solar Energy
April 03, 2015
"I'm announcing a new goal to train 75,000 workers to enter the solar industry by 2020. As part of this, we’re creating what we’re calling a “Solar Ready Vets” program that’s modeled after some successful pilot initiatives that have already been established over the last several years. It's going to train transitioning military personnel for careers in this growing industry at 10 bases — including right here at Hill.
"And as part of this effort, we’re also going to work with states to enable more veterans to use the Post-9/11 GI Bill for solar job training. And it’s one of the many steps that we’re taking to help nearly 700,000 veterans and military spouses get a job. In fact, about 30 percent of the federal workforce is now made up of veterans. I’ve said it before, and I think employers are starting to catch on, if you really want to get the job done, hire a veteran."
Released the first installment of the Quadrennial Energy Review, which focuses on U.S. energy transmission, storage, and distribution to examine how to modernize our nation’s energy infrastructure to promote economic competitiveness, energy security, and environmental responsibility
Supported research and public-private partnerships to pursue new innovations in biofuel technologies
"Today at the White House, the Departments of the Navy, Agriculture and Energy announced new contracts to construct and commission biorefineries capable of producing drop-in, military-compatible fuels that can be used in our most advanced warfighting platforms and by commercial industry. Together, the three companies receiving the awards will produce more than 100 million gallons of military grade fuel – at a price that’s competitive with fossil fuel."
Dedicated new federal resources for economic diversification, job creation, training, and other employment services for workers and communities impacted by layoffs at coal mines and coal-fired power plants
The United States is undergoing a rapid energy transformation, particularly in the power sector. Booming natural gas production, declining costs for renewable energy, increases in energy efficiency, flattening electricity demand, and updated clean air standards are changing the way electricity is generated and used across the country. These trends are producing cleaner air and healthier communities, and spurring new jobs and industries. At the same time, they are impacting workers and communities who have relied on the coal industry as a source of good jobs and economic prosperity, particularly in Appalachia, where competition with other coal basins provides additional pressure. To help these communities adapt to the changing energy landscape and build a better future the President’s FY 2016 Budget proposed the POWER Plus (POWER+) Plan.
Increased Federal investment in hydroelectric power, including in the construction of the Red Rock Hydroelectric Plant in Iowa
REPORT: Climate Action Plan Progress Report
Recognized independent commitments by more than 350 leading companies and state and local leaders to deploy solar energy and increase energy efficiency across the nation
President Obama Speaks on American Energy
President Obama announces new steps to help generate more clean energy, waste less energy overall, and leave our kids and our grandkids with a cleaner, safer planet in the process.
Led Global Efforts on Climate Change
Led global efforts on climate change, resulting in a historic Paris Climate Agreement, with more than 190 countries coming together to adopt the most ambitious climate change agreement in history. The Paris Agreement establishes a long-term, durable global framework to set the world on a course to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate the most dangerous levels of climate change.
This new global framework lays the foundation for countries to work together to put the world on a path to keeping global temperature rise well below 2 degrees Celsius and sets an ambitious vision to go even farther than that. This Agreement sends a strong signal to the private sector that the global economy is moving towards clean energy, and that through innovation and ingenuity, we can achieve our climate objectives while creating new jobs, raising standards of living and lifting millions out of poverty.
The Paris Agreement is also the culmination of a broader effort by nations, businesses, cities, and citizens to reorient the global economy to a path of low-carbon growth – progress that will accelerate as a result of the Agreement’s provisions on mitigation ambition, transparency, and climate finance.
Led an unprecedented international effort to push the Paris Agreement into force, faster than all but a handful of international agreements
Remarks by the President on the Paris Agreement
"Today is a historic day in the fight to protect our planet for future generations.
"Ten months ago, in Paris, I said before the world that we needed a strong global agreement to reduce carbon pollution and to set the world on a low-carbon course. The result was the Paris Agreement. Last month, the United States and China -- the world’s two largest economies and largest emitters -- formally joined that agreement together. And today, the world has officially crossed the threshold for the Paris Agreement to take effect.
"Today, the world meets the moment. And if we follow through on the commitments that this agreement embodies, history may well judge it as a turning point for our planet."
Led an international coalition of countries to secure an amendment to the Montreal Protocol to phase down HFCs, potent greenhouse gases. The amendment, which has strong support from U.S. industry, will avoid more than 80 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent by 2050 – equivalent to more than a decade of emissions from the entire U.S. economy – and could avoid up to 0.5°C of warming by the end of the century.
FACT SHEET: Nearly 200 Countries Reach a Global Deal to Phase Down Potent Greenhouse Gases and Avoid Up to 0.5°C of Warming
Forged a historic joint announcement with China, under which the United States launched an ambitious but achievable U.S. target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 26 to 28 percent below 2005 levels by 2025, while China announced for the first time its intent to peak carbon emissions around 2030 and increase the share of zero-carbon energy capacity to 20 percent
This announcement is a unique development in the U.S.-China relationship. The world’s two largest economies, energy consumers, and carbon emitters are reaching across traditional divides and working together to demonstrate leadership on an issue that affects the entire world.
By making this announcement well in advance of the deadline set out in the UNFCCC negotiations, the two leaders demonstrated their commitment to reducing the harmful emissions warming our planet, and encouraged other world leaders to follow suit in offering strong national targets ahead of the final negotiations in Paris.
Announced an additional Joint Presidential Statement on Climate Change with China’s President Xi Jinping that further defined implementation of the countries’ post-2020 emissions targets
In November 2014, President Barack Obama and President Xi Jinping stood together in Beijing to make a historic U.S.-China Joint Announcement on Climate Change, emphasizing their personal commitment to a successful climate agreement in Paris and marking a new era of multilateral climate diplomacy as well as a new pillar in their bilateral relationship. On the occasion of President Xi’s State Visit to Washington, D.C., the two Presidents reaffirm their shared conviction that climate change is one of the greatest threats facing humanity and that their two countries have a critical role to play in addressing it.
Led over 190 countries in securing both a global standard to reduce carbon emissions from commercial aircraft and an innovative, market-oriented, and industry supported agreement to limit emissions across the aviation sector
Launched Mission Innovation, a landmark commitment to double public funding for clean energy research and development to $30 billion in five years
Collaborating with 20 private investors from around the world that launched the Breakthrough Energy Coalition, which culminated in 2016 with the launch of Breakthrough Energy Ventures, a $1 billion dollar fund to invest in developing clean energy technologies.
Through the initiative, 20 countries are committing to double their respective clean energy research and development (R&D) investment over five years. These countries include the top five most populous nations – China, India, the United States, Indonesia, and Brazil. They stretch across five continents. And when you add all partner countries together, they represent 75 percent of the world’s CO2 emissions from electricity, and more than 80 percent of the world’s clean energy R&D investment. These additional public resources will be supported by the Breakthrough Energy Coalition, an independent effort by 28 top private investors from around the world, led by Bill Gates, to commit unprecedented levels of private capital to help bring breakthrough energy technologies to the market in Mission Innovation member countries.
The Administration also released a Framework for Mission Innovation, which outlines examples of proven and powerful approaches to research, development, and demonstration of breakthrough technologies that will be critical elements to the U.S. domestic implementation of Mission Innovation.
Pledged $3 billion to support the Green Climate Fund to reduce carbon pollution and strengthen resilience in developing countries, especially the poorest and most vulnerable. The GCF will play an important role in improving resilience to climate impacts and addressing the security risks associated with climate change.
FACT SHEET: United States Support for Global Efforts to Combat Carbon Pollution and Build Resilience
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