The Climate 2030 Blueprint

The Union of Concerned Scientists developed the Climate 2030 Blueprint using a modified version of the National Energy Modeling System (UCS-NEMS) to evaluate a 'Blueprint case' against a 'Reference case'. The Blueprint case centers on a cap-and-trade program starting in 2011, designed to reduce U.S. emissions to 26 percent below 2005 levels by 2020 and 56 percent below 2005 levels by 2030. This cap is supported by complementary policies in energy efficiency, electricity generation, and transportation to lower the overall cost of compliance. The analysis incorporates supplemental data on building and industrial efficiency from the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy and biomass supply curves from the University of Tennessee and Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

• The Climate 2030 Blueprint establishes long-term U.S. emissions goals to reduce annual emissions by at least 80 percent from 2005 levels by 2050 and to keep cumulative emissions between 165 and 260 gigatons CO2 equivalent from 2000 to 2050.
• The proposed cap-and-trade program begins in 2011 and targets a reduction of 26 percent below 2005 levels by 2020, and 56 percent below 2005 levels by 2030.
• The Blueprint's cap-and-trade system covers electricity generation, transportation, and the industrial, commercial, and residential sectors, including CO2, methane, nitrous oxide, and several fluorinated gases.
• To make the emissions cap more cost-effective, the Blueprint includes complementary policies such as a national renewable electricity standard requiring 40 percent of remaining electricity demand to be met by renewables by 2030.
• The Blueprint identifies several market failures that hinder climate solutions, including energy prices that exclude environmental and health costs, risk aversion regarding high up-front costs, and 'split incentives' between building owners and renters.
• Energy efficiency policies for industry and buildings are projected to result in total savings of 12.1 end-use quads by 2030, with a total program investment of 113.55 billion 2006 dollars.
• Transportation goals include increasing fuel economy for new cars and light-duty trucks from a 2005 baseline of 26 mi/gallon to 42 mi/gallon by 2020 and 55 mi/gallon by 2030.

APA

Union of Concerned Scientists (n.d.). The Climate 2030 Blueprint. https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-09/climate-2030-roadmap-chapter-2.pdf

Chicago

Union of Concerned Scientists. The Climate 2030 Blueprint. n.d. https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-09/climate-2030-roadmap-chapter-2.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Union of Concerned Scientists |title=The Climate 2030 Blueprint |url=https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-09/climate-2030-roadmap-chapter-2.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{unionofconcernedscientistsndclimate, author = {{Union of Concerned Scientists}}, title = {{The Climate 2030 Blueprint}}, institution = {Union of Concerned Scientists}, url = {https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-09/climate-2030-roadmap-chapter-2.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }