A strong body of scientific evidence underscores the imperative of decarbonizing the global economy in order to avoid the worst potential impacts of climate change. Key strategies for achieving that goal include increasing energy efficiency, decarbonizing the power sector, switching to electricity and other low- and zero-carbon fuels, reducing non-CO₂ climate pollutants, and using both nature and technology to remove carbon from the atmosphere.

In the United States, achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 will require action across society—by governments, the private sector, and the public at large. It will require both innovative technologies and strong policies to ensure they are deployed. And apart from reducing the grave risks of climate change, it will provide a strong foundation for continued U.S. growth and competitiveness.

Getting to Zero: A U.S. Climate Agenda recommends that a U.S. decarbonization strategy be guided by these key objectives: achieving net-zero emissions no later than 2050, reestablishing U.S. global leadership on climate change, developing and mobilizing a broad array of technological solutions, promoting cost-effective solutions, protecting and enhancing U.S. competitiveness and energy security, ensuring an equitable transition, strengthening climate resilience, responding to new information and circumstances, and providing predictability to drive long-term investment.

The post Getting to Zero: A U.S. Climate Agenda appeared first on Center for Climate and Energy Solutions.

The post Maximizing Benefits: Strategies for Community Resilience appeared first on Center for Climate and Energy Solutions.

Key Takeaways

• Organizations often prioritize resilience strategies that simultaneously address other objectives.
• Short funding and planning cycles can underestimate returns on resilience.
• Resilience is undervalued and underfunded.
• Mainstreaming is effective but can have drawbacks.
• Word choice frames climate risks and opportunities.
• Additional effort is required to promote greater public-private sector collaboration.

The post Key Insights into Prioritizing Resilience Strategies appeared first on Center for Climate and Energy Solutions.

Key Takeaways

• The risk of wildfire has grown in recent decades and is expected to increase across the United States due to reduced precipitation and higher temperatures caused by climate change.
• Wildfire causes rippling effects like damaged habitat, degraded air quality causing health impacts, and drinking water supply contamination.
• Communities can employ a number of strategies to be more resilient to wildfire, these include: zoning and building policy, landscape regulations, vegetation and forestry management, and public education and preparedness campaigns.

• Wildfire resilience strategies carry an upfront cost, but can provide considerable returns over time in the form of improved drinking water quality, land conservation, higher property values, avoided damages and reduced wildfire or building insurance.
• The community of Austin Texas provides a model of wildfire resilience efforts by developing a Community Wildfire Protection Plan, managing vegetation, conserving land in the WUI, and educating its citizens about wildfire safety and preparedness for emergencies

The post Resilience Strategies for Wildfire appeared first on Center for Climate and Energy Solutions.