A Policy Pathway to Reach U.S. Net Zero Emissions by 2050

This report by Energy Innovation outlines an illustrative policy pathway to achieve net zero emissions in the United States by 2050 using the Energy Policy Simulator (EPS). The proposed pathway aims to abate over 6 Gt of emissions annually and save more than 120,000 lives per year by reducing particulate pollution, focusing on the industrial, transportation, electricity, and buildings sectors.

• The proposed net zero pathway for the United States would abate more than 6 Gt of emissions annually by 2050 and result in more than 120,000 American lives saved each year through the reduction of particulate pollution.
• To decarbonize the industrial sector, which accounts for 35 percent of U.S. emissions (or 29 percent excluding electricity generation), the pathway relies on electrification and hydrogen for 38 percent of abatement, material efficiency, longevity, and re-use for 21 percent, and the replacement of fluorinated gases for 14 percent.
• Transportation emissions represent 27 percent of U.S. emissions. The pathway achieves 73 percent of abatement through a mandate for 100 percent all-electric sales for most vehicles by 2030 and 50 percent for medium- and heavy-duty trucks by 2030; 13 percent comes from transportation demand management, and 12 percent from a 50 percent hydrogen sales mandate for medium- and heavy-duty trucks by 2040.
• Electricity generation accounts for 26 percent of U.S. emissions. The report suggests a 100 percent carbon-free electricity standard by 2050, incorporating wind, solar, hydropower, and nuclear power, supported by increased transmission infrastructure, grid flexibility, and energy efficiency.
• Buildings are responsible for 27 percent of U.S. emissions (or 8 percent excluding power generation). An all-electric sales mandate by 2035 would drive 87 percent of the sector's emissions reductions, with the remainder achieved through financial incentives for retrofits and efficiency standards.

APA

Marcacci, S. (2019). A Policy Pathway to Reach U.S. Net Zero Emissions by 2050. Energy Innovation. https://energyinnovation.org/report/a-policy-pathway-to-reach-u-s-net-zero-emissions-by-2050/

Chicago

Marcacci, Silvio. A Policy Pathway to Reach U.S. Net Zero Emissions by 2050. Energy Innovation, 2019. https://energyinnovation.org/report/a-policy-pathway-to-reach-u-s-net-zero-emissions-by-2050/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Marcacci |first1=Silvio |title=A Policy Pathway to Reach U.S. Net Zero Emissions by 2050 |publisher=Energy Innovation |date=16 November 2019 |url=https://energyinnovation.org/report/a-policy-pathway-to-reach-u-s-net-zero-emissions-by-2050/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{marcacci2019policy, author = {Marcacci, Silvio}, title = {{A Policy Pathway to Reach U.S. Net Zero Emissions by 2050}}, institution = {Energy Innovation}, year = {2019}, month = nov, url = {https://energyinnovation.org/report/a-policy-pathway-to-reach-u-s-net-zero-emissions-by-2050/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }