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Fusing subnational with national climate action is central to decarbonization: the case of the United States

Author

Listed:
  • Nathan E. Hultman

    (School of Public Policy, University of Maryland)

  • Leon Clarke

    (School of Public Policy, University of Maryland)

  • Carla Frisch

    (Rocky Mountain Institute)

  • Kevin Kennedy

    (World Resources Institute)

  • Haewon McJeon

    (School of Public Policy, University of Maryland)

  • Tom Cyrs

    (World Resources Institute)

  • Pete Hansel

    (Independent)

  • Paul Bodnar

    (Rocky Mountain Institute)

  • Michelle Manion

    (World Resources Institute)

  • Morgan R. Edwards

    (School of Public Policy, University of Maryland
    La Follette School of Public Affairs, 1225 Observatory Drive, University of Wisconsin–Madison)

  • Ryna Cui

    (School of Public Policy, University of Maryland)

  • Christina Bowman

    (School of Public Policy, University of Maryland)

  • Jessie Lund

    (Rocky Mountain Institute)

  • Michael I. Westphal

    (World Resources Institute
    Basque Centre for Climate Change (BC3), Edificio Sede 1-1, Parque Científico de UPV/EHU, Barrio Sarriena s/n)

  • Andrew Clapper

    (CDP North America)

  • Joel Jaeger

    (World Resources Institute)

  • Arijit Sen

    (School of Public Policy, University of Maryland)

  • Jiehong Lou

    (School of Public Policy, University of Maryland)

  • Devashree Saha

    (World Resources Institute)

  • Wendy Jaglom

    (Rocky Mountain Institute)

  • Koben Calhoun

    (Rocky Mountain Institute)

  • Kristin Igusky

    (World Resources Institute
    U.S. Climate Alliance)

  • James deWeese

    (World Resources Institute
    School of Urban Planning, McGill University)

  • Kareem Hammoud

    (Rocky Mountain Institute)

  • J. C. Altimirano

    (World Resources Institute)

  • Margaret Dennis

    (World Resources Institute)

  • Chris Henderson

    (World Resources Institute)

  • Gill Zwicker

    (World Resources Institute)

  • John O’Neill

    (School of Public Policy, University of Maryland)

Abstract

Approaches that root national climate strategies in local actions will be essential for all countries as they develop new nationally determined contributions under the Paris Agreement. The potential impact of climate action from non-national actors in delivering higher global ambition is significant. Sub-national action in the United States provides a test for how such actions can accelerate emissions reductions. We aggregated U.S. state, city, and business commitments within an integrated assessment model to assess how a national climate strategy can be built upon non-state actions. We find that existing commitments alone could reduce emissions 25% below 2005 levels by 2030, and that enhancing actions by these actors could reduce emissions up to 37%. We show how these actions can provide a stepped-up basis for additional federal action to reduce emissions by 49%—consistent with 1.5 °C. Our analysis demonstrates sub-national actions can lead to substantial reductions and support increased national action.

Suggested Citation

  • Nathan E. Hultman & Leon Clarke & Carla Frisch & Kevin Kennedy & Haewon McJeon & Tom Cyrs & Pete Hansel & Paul Bodnar & Michelle Manion & Morgan R. Edwards & Ryna Cui & Christina Bowman & Jessie Lund , 2020. "Fusing subnational with national climate action is central to decarbonization: the case of the United States," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 11(1), pages 1-10, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:11:y:2020:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-020-18903-w
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-18903-w
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    Cited by:

    1. Sander Chan & Idil Boran & Harro van Asselt & Paula Ellinger & Miriam Garcia & Thomas Hale & Lukas Hermwille & Kennedy Liti Mbeva & Ayşem Mert & Charles B. Roger & Amy Weinfurter & Oscar Widerberg & P, 2021. "Climate Ambition and Sustainable Development for a New Decade: A Catalytic Framework," Global Policy, London School of Economics and Political Science, vol. 12(3), pages 245-259, May.
    2. Yang Ou & Christopher Roney & Jameel Alsalam & Katherine Calvin & Jared Creason & Jae Edmonds & Allen A. Fawcett & Page Kyle & Kanishka Narayan & Patrick O’Rourke & Pralit Patel & Shaun Ragnauth & Ste, 2021. "Deep mitigation of CO2 and non-CO2 greenhouse gases toward 1.5 °C and 2 °C futures," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-9, December.
    3. Paul Wolfram & Stephanie Weber & Kenneth Gillingham & Edgar G. Hertwich, 2021. "Pricing indirect emissions accelerates low—carbon transition of US light vehicle sector," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-8, December.
    4. Onodera, Hiroaki & Delage, Rémi & Nakata, Toshihiko, 2024. "The role of regional renewable energy integration in electricity decarbonization—A case study of Japan," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 363(C).
    5. Miguel Manjon & Nathalie Crutzen, 2022. "Air quality in smart sustainable cities: target and/or trigger?," The Annals of Regional Science, Springer;Western Regional Science Association, vol. 68(2), pages 359-386, April.
    6. Wang, Zhen & Yan, Haoben & Gao, Xue & Liang, Qiaomei & Mi, Zhifu & Liu, Lancui, 2024. "Have consumption-based CO2 emissions in developed countries peaked?," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 184(C).

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