Can the U.S. Get There from Here?

The report argues that while new federal legislation will eventually be necessary to achieve the 80 percent emissions reductions needed to mitigate severe climate impacts, the U.S. Administration can meet its 2020 commitment of reducing emissions to 17 percent below 2005 levels through 'go-getter' actions. Key opportunities include using the Clean Air Act to target power plants and natural gas systems, and utilizing the Montreal Protocol and the Clean Air Act to eliminate hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). State-level actions in energy efficiency, renewables, and transportation are also identified as essential complements to federal efforts.

• The U.S. is projected to fail its international commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 17 percent below 2005 levels by 2020 unless the Administration takes new action, as emissions are otherwise expected to increase.
• Substantial emissions reductions between now and 2035 can be achieved by the EPA using Clean Air Act authority to target power plants and natural gas systems, while the elimination of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) via the Montreal Protocol and the Clean Air Act represents the next largest opportunity.
• Existing federal and state actions are insufficient for long-term climate goals; new federal legislation will be required to reach the more than 80 percent GHG emissions reductions necessary to avoid the most severe impacts of climate change.

APA

World Resources Institute (n.d.). Can the U.S. Get There from Here? https://www.wri.org/research/can-us-get-there-here

Chicago

World Resources Institute. Can the U.S. Get There from Here? n.d. https://www.wri.org/research/can-us-get-there-here.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=World Resources Institute |title=Can the U.S. Get There from Here? |url=https://www.wri.org/research/can-us-get-there-here |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{worldresourcesinstitutendcan, author = {{World Resources Institute}}, title = {{Can the U.S. Get There from Here?}}, institution = {World Resources Institute}, url = {https://www.wri.org/research/can-us-get-there-here}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }