Statement of Eileen Claussen President, Center for Climate and
Energy Solutions December 5, 2012 The latest outlook from the
U.S. Energy Information Administration predicts that carbon
emissions will fall to 5,455 million metric tons by 2020.
Considering the most recent Environmental Protection Agency
projections for greenhouse gases other than carbon dioxide, we
can expect total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions to decline a
little less than 5 percent below 2005 levels by 2020. That’s a
far cry from the 17 percent the United States has pledged to cut
to begin addressing the emissions causing our climate to change.
Rosier estimates and statements about the U.S. being ‘on track’
to meet that commitment are based on the assumption that EPA
will finalize emissions regulations for existing fossil-fuel
power plants. Those regulations are legally required but haven't
even been proposed. It is reasonable to assume that the U.S.
will achieve, conservatively, a 10 percent decrease in
greenhouse gases from 2005 levels by 2