WRI Response to the State of the Union

The World Resources Institute (WRI) responds to President Obama's State of the Union address by identifying key policy levers to meet U.S. emissions targets. WRI argues that while executive action is necessary, market-based legislation to price carbon would maximize economic benefits. To reach the 2020 target, WRI recommends enacting standards for existing power plants, reducing hydrofluorocarbons, addressing methane leaks from natural gas systems, and improving energy efficiency.

• The United States has a national target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 17 percent below 2005 levels by the year 2020.
• WRI identifies four primary areas where the Obama Administration can reduce emissions: establishing standards for existing power plants (the largest source of U.S. emissions), cutting hydrofluorocarbon emissions, reducing methane from natural gas systems, and increasing energy efficiency.
• While the President can act independently, WRI asserts that market-based legislation that puts a price on carbon would result in lower costs and greater benefits.

APA

Steer, A. (2013). WRI Response to the State of the Union. World Resources Institute. https://www.wri.org/news/statement-wri-response-state-union

Chicago

Steer, Andrew. WRI Response to the State of the Union. World Resources Institute, 2013. https://www.wri.org/news/statement-wri-response-state-union.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |last1=Steer |first1=Andrew |title=WRI Response to the State of the Union |publisher=World Resources Institute |date=12 February 2013 |url=https://www.wri.org/news/statement-wri-response-state-union |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{steer2013wri, author = {Steer, Andrew}, title = {{WRI Response to the State of the Union}}, publisher = {World Resources Institute}, year = {2013}, month = feb, url = {https://www.wri.org/news/statement-wri-response-state-union}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }