Analysis from international policy reports and expert assessments

Biden Sets U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Target of 61%-66% by 2035 from 2005 Levels Before January 20 Inauguration

Dec 19, 2024, 04:42 PM

In a final push to solidify his climate legacy, President Joe Biden's administration has announced a new target to reduce U.S. greenhouse gas emissions by 61% to 66% by 2035, compared to 2005 levels. This ambitious goal comes just weeks before President-elect Donald Trump is set to take office, a move seen as an effort to influence future climate policy amid expectations that Trump will roll back many of Biden's environmental initiatives. The Biden administration asserts that much of the progress toward these targets can be achieved without federal support, relying instead on state and local actions. The announcement is part of the U.S.'s commitment under the Paris Agreement, with the new targets being submitted as a Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) to the United Nations. However, Trump's administration is anticipated to disregard these goals, as he has previously expressed skepticism about climate change and vowed to dismantle existing climate regulations.