The Policy Greenhouse

In recent years, one of the most environmentally impactful decisions that the US government has made was choosing to rejoin the Paris Agreement in 2021. The Paris Agreement is a legally binding agreement between 196 countries that is dedicated to limiting the global average temperature to only 2 degrees celsius above pre-industrial levels. Countries that are a part of this agreement commit themselves to this goal through declaring their NDCs (Nationally Determined Contribution), which are the actions they plan to take to get closer to the goal of 2 degrees celsius above pre-industrial levels. In the US’s case, these actions mainly take the form of changes in industry. For example, the US is aiming to move away from using fossil fuels in things like power plants, manufacturing, building, and even transportation. This is expected to be accomplished through things such as incentives for people to switch to EVs, granting subsidies to energy companies in order to help the development of renewable energy technology, as well as retrofitting old buildings with more sustainable technologies such as solar panels. As a whole, most of the measures that the US is saying that it will take are centered around further developing technology so that society as a whole can still use the same amount of energy, but output less harmful waste products. However, these proposed changes to industry have been a point of contention for many policymakers in the US. Specifically, the potential future restrictions on the fossil fuel industry that come with joining the Paris Agreement. Former President Trump thought that these restrictions were thought to be too strenuous for the US’s economy, which is part of why he chose to withdraw from the Paris Agreement in 2017. There were also concerns surrounding the agreement’s effects on American sovereignty, as the agreement would take away a level of autonomy when it comes to the US making its own climate decisions. And so the issue that arises here is how we weigh economic gain against environmental protection, as well as how to draw the line between international cooperation and loss of autonomy.

Sources:

https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/the-paris-agreement