03.19.24 Climate Legislation in the US

Visit the following link and see where the United States measures up against other countries.
https://ccpi.org/ranking/

• On the next slide, answer the following:

  • What are the four metrics in which countries are being measured?

  • Where does the US rank amongst these countries?

  • What surprises you the most about these rankings?
    
    

1. ​What are some of the goals mentioned in the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022?

2. How will these goals be obtained?

3. What are some of the economic and environmental benefits of this bill? (environmental benefits may not be included in the text, you will have to draw these conclusions yourself.)

Visit the following link to read about a recent piece of legislation that was passed in the US.
https://share.america.gov/whats-in-biggest-us-climate-legislation-ever-passed/

The legislation will keep the United States on track to meet its Paris Agreement goals by reducing U.S. carbon emissions 40% by 2030 and reaching net-zero emissions by 2050.

The IRA will eliminate U.S. greenhouse gas emissions by 1 billion metric tons by 2030, an impact 10 times greater than any outlined in earlier-enacted U.S. legislation.

This will be accomplished by investing in clean energy infrastructure and providing tax incentives for Americans to convert their homes to climate-friendly energy.

​

The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022

From the reading (continued)

By 2030, the United States private sector will install:

• 950 million solar panels.

• 120,000 wind turbines.

• 2,300 grid-scale battery plants.

The bill focuses on natural solutions to the climate crisis, too.

Around the world, forests absorb one-third of the carbon-dioxide released from burning fossil fuels, making them one of the most powerful tools to combat the climate crisis. In the United States, forests absorb 14% of annual carbon emissions. The IRA allocates $5 billion to protect nearly 800,000 hectares of national forests across the country

From the reading (continued)

The legislation offers huge tax breaks and financial incentives to American corporations and residents to go green. In addition, it will create millions of well-paying jobs in the clean energy sector across America.

Biden set a goal to ensure 50% of all new U.S car purchases are electric vehicles by 2030. The new law now provides tax credits to Americans who want to buy a zero-emissions vehicle.

The law gives incentives for large and small businesses to go green. Small businesses can receive a tax credit to cover 30% of the cost of switching to solar power. Larger businesses can receive a clean energy tax credit for switching to wind, solar, nuclear and clean hydrogen.