Center for Global Sustainability

How can the United States deliver on its new 2035 #NDC without strong federal climate leadership? CGS’s new analysis finds that strong non-federal climate action can deliver 54-62% GHG emissions reductions by 2035 across a range of federal climate ambitions: https://lnkd.in/gvB9KSWV In September, we released a report showing how comprehensive, high-ambition all-society #climateaction can cut U.S. emissions by 65% by 2035. Check out the report to see concrete actions subnational actors can take to achieve greater emissions reductions: go.umd.edu/Toward2035 As the future of the U.S. climate policy unfolds and the durability of various federal policies becomes clearer, stay tuned for forthcoming CGS analysis as we continue to examine the impacts of reduced federal climate leadership and the actions non-federal actors can take to fill the void.

Methane mitigation is a critical component of global climate action, requiring comprehensive strategies across key emitting sectors. To support methane mitigation efforts, the Center for Global Sustainability will release the Global Methane Mitigation Technologies Database in the upcoming months. This database, led by Mengye Zhu, will be a comprehensive, open inventory of methane mitigation technologies and strategies to enhance understanding of practical solutions and support future research and policy development: https://lnkd.in/eiRC2VJ8

Clean energy transition policies not only combat climate change but can also improve air quality and, in turn, protect public health. However, with many different stakeholders involved, each creating their own policies, figuring out how to effectively combine these actions to maximize health benefits remains a challenge. A new study in One Earth by the Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment and the Center for Global Sustainability finds that a comprehensive approach involving all societal sectors can significantly reduce premature deaths caused by air pollution across the United States. This can improve health outcomes by up to 21% in every state and nearly 29% in most counties by 2030: https://lnkd.in/eRKTNZrV

Today, CGS Research Manager Alicia Zhao presented during ClimateXChange's webinar on 2025 climate policy trends and opportunities about how subnational action can deliver a high-ambition 2035 emissions trajectory in the United States. Check out the analysis here: https://lnkd.in/gvB9KSWV

Upcoming event ?? Tune into ClimateXChange's webinar this Wednesday, 3/12, at 2:00 PM to hear CGS Research Manager Alicia Zhao discuss 2025 climate policy trends and opportunities for states to create the greatest emissions reductions. Register here: https://lnkd.in/edsUDVjd

?? Where in the world will Direct Air Capture (DAC) plants be located? ? How can they be integrated with clean energy projects and a decarbonizing power system? ??? What role do policymakers, at all levels of government, play in advancing DAC deployment? Join the Direct Air Capture Coalition, Breakthrough Energy , RMI, Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES), and Good Energy Collective to hear the world's leading experts discuss these critical questions and many more in NYC next week, March 17-18. ???Learn more and register here: https://lnkd.in/ga8m3Cey ?? Some All Star Panels Will Include: Scaling Direct Air Capture Solutions Worldwide: - Aaron Benjamin, Direct Air Capture Coalition (Moderator) - Na'im Merchant, Carbon Removal Canada - Masaki Harada, Mitsubishi Corporation - Manoel Tabet Soriano, City of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - James Mwangi, Africa Climate Ventures - Mengye Zhu, Center for Global Sustainability Integrating DAC with Clean Energy Systems - Colin McCormick, Carbon Direct (Moderator) - Jesse Jenkins, Princeton University - Mary Dhillon, Fervo Energy - John Cornwell, Good Energy Collective - Gabe Messercola, EDF Renewables North America State and Local Policy Leadership in Scaling DAC - Christopher Neidl, The OpenAir Collective (Moderator) - Will Kain, Avnos, Inc. - Kyle Clark-Sutton, RMI - Quinn Antus (Middleton), Colorado Energy Office See full agenda here: https://lnkd.in/e-qwUqFr #GDACC25 #DAC #DirectAirCapture #CarbonRemoval

“Economic competitors would be more than happy to hire the talent that we have so carefully cultivated here,” said CGS Director Nate Hultman in POLITICO on China's pursuit of American scientists made jobless by U.S. federal funding cuts. https://lnkd.in/eAE9sug6

The Center for Global Sustainability and America Is All In's research assessing how non-federal action can contribute to U.S. emissions reductions was cited in a Reuters article: "Non-federal leadership could achieve 54-62% of emissions reduction by 2035 if they strengthen existing policies." https://lnkd.in/epTEE_Uz

Though their future is uncertain, a recent multi-model study in Science Magazine quantified the impact of the EPA's finalized power plant rules and determined that by speeding up coal plant retirements, the standards would accelerate reductions of conventional air pollutants: 88-98% reduction in sulfur dioxide emissions by 2035 and 70-88% reduction in nitrogen oxide emissions by 2035: https://lnkd.in/eYrEMuam

Investing in low-carbon energy technologies presents an opportunity to provide immediate health and economic co-benefits by reducing air pollution, improving human health, and providing new job opportunities. To realize those benefits, recent research in One Earth shows how several U.S. federal actions, including the Inflation Reduction Act (#IRA), offer a unique opportunity to promote health and equity goals through clean energy investments that empower local communities and initiate partnerships for coordinated action on energy, health, and equity goals: https://lnkd.in/g2n9x_9V