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Ask a Scientist: The US Has to Do More to Meet Its Carbon Emissions Reduction Goals

Union of Concerned Scientists

However, several analyses—including a recent one by the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS)—have concluded that the IRA, even when coupled with the bipartisan infrastructure act and other federal and state climate policies, will not be enough to meet US carbon emission reduction goals. EN: We have already seen a great deal of progress.

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The Supreme Court’s Latest Decision Is a Blow to Stopping Climate Change

Union of Concerned Scientists

The majority 6–3 decision sharply curtails the EPA’s authority to set standards based on a broad range of flexible options to cut carbon emissions from the power sector—options such as replacing polluting fossil fuels with cheap and widely available wind and solar power coupled with battery storage. carbon emissions today.

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7 Things to Know About Burning Hydrogen in Gas Plants: An H2 FAQ 

Union of Concerned Scientists

In turn, this means a given percentage of hydrogen (by volume) blended in doesnt lead to the same percentage reduction in the amount of gasor to the same reduction of carbon emissions. A blend with 50% hydrogen by volume, for example, gets you only 23% less smokestack carbon pollution.

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Ask a Scientist: Two Dozen States Can Meet 100 Percent of Electricity Demand with Renewables by 2035

Union of Concerned Scientists

All told, they represent 56 percent of the US population, generate 62 percent of the country’s gross domestic product, and are responsible for 43 percent of the country’s annual carbon emissions. Emissions of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides from power plants in alliance states drop 88 percent and 77 percent respectively by 2040.

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Ask a Scientist: UCS Transportation Program Adds Equitable Mobility to its Portfolio

Union of Concerned Scientists

In 1963, a typical car—which ran on leaded gasoline without pollution control devices— emitted 520 pounds of hydrocarbons, 1,700 pounds of carbon monoxide, and 90 pounds of nitrogen oxide every 10,000 miles traveled. More than 20,000 Americans died prematurely in 2015 from tailpipe emissions, according to a 2019 study.

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If the US Meets Its Climate Goals, We Can Save Money and Lives

Union of Concerned Scientists

UCS modeled the impacts of reduced emissions on public health As part of our research in the new Accelerating Clean Energy Ambition report , UCS undertook analyses to study the impacts of reducing carbon emissions on public health. Combined with our total health benefits, we see huge savings when we reduce emissions.

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Can California Stop Selling Polluting Cars by 2035? Yes It Can.

Union of Concerned Scientists

The impact of the new rules goes beyond just lowering carbon emissions. The Air Resources Board estimates that between 2026 and 2040, the ACCII rules will eliminate 69,569 tons of nitrogen oxides and 4,469 tons of particulate matter (PM2.5) , leading to over 1,200 fewer cardiopulmonary deaths due to air pollution. .