US Policy: Domestic Policies to Reduce the near-term Risks of Climate Change

published Apr 02, 2013 - 8 pages

Recent extreme weather events across the nation have sounded the alarm that climate change is happening here and now—it can no longer be dismissed as a long-term problem requiring only a long-term solution. Because of their relatively short atmospheric lifetimes (e.g., weeks to a few decades), cuts in methane, black carbon and hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) will produce significant near-term climate benefits. This paper sets out a series of cost-effective steps that the Obama Administration can

Recent extreme weather events across the nation have sounded the alarm that climate change is happening here and now—it can no longer be dismissed as a long-term problem requiring only a long-term solution. Because of their relatively short atmospheric lifetimes (e.g., weeks to a few decades), cuts in methane, black carbon and hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) will produce significant near-term climate benefits. This paper sets out a series of cost-effective steps that the Obama Administration can implement under existing authorities that would deliver substantial near-term reductions in the rate of climate change. These actions are a critical complement to ongoing efforts to limit carbon dioxide emissions and represent the only realistic option for keeping global temperature increases close to the 2 degree target adopted by the international community.


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