Analysis: Recommendations for a US climate action agenda

The Pew Center on Global Climate Change in Washington D.C. spells out fifteen recommendations for the United States to make a positive contribution to global warming mitigation and adaptation efforts.

The Pew Center identifies fifteen actions for the US to tackle climate change more efficiently. The recommended actions fall under the following key sectors:

• Invest in science and technology research
• Establish mandatory limits on greenhouse gas emissions and harness market mechanisms for economy-wide reductions
• Stimulate innovations across key economic sectors
• Drive the energy system towards greater efficiency, lower-carbon energy sources, and carbon capture technologies
• Begin now to adapt to the inevitable consequences of climate change
• Engage the US in negotiations to strengthen the international climate effort

However, the report concludes that no single technology or single policy instrument can entirely solve the problem. Eileen Claussen, President of the Pew Center, says: “Some believe the answer to addressing climate change lies in technology incentives. Others say limiting emissions is the only answer. We need both.”