November 21, 2000

White House Fact Sheet:

U.S. Domestic Progress on Climate Change
Summary of Greenhouse Gas Emission Reductions

The U.S. has undertaken a comprehensive set of actions to achieve emission reductions from the key sectors that produce greenhouse gases (GHG), including transportation, electricity supply, electricity demand in buildings, and industry. These actions demonstrate the U.S. is undertaking significant domestic actions, and can do more in the coming decade.

These efforts are challenging the historic link between economic growth and carbon emissions. During the 1990s, the U.S. GDP grew almost three times faster than energy-related CO2 emissions. In both 1998 and 1999, U.S. GDP grew by more than 4 percent each year, while GHG emissions grew by less than 1 percent per year.

The emission reductions result from public-private partnerships to research, develop, and deploy clean energy technologies. Specific actions taken include:

Transportation

• Ford and General Motors have announced production plans for Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) that will be 15-25% more efficient by 2005 -- 100 MMTCE cumulative emission reduction by 2020.

• President Clinton requires the U.S. government to reduce petroleum use by 20% by 2005 - 160,000 MTCE per year.

• President Clinton established national goal of tripling use of bioproducts and bioenergy by 2010 -- 100 MMTCE by 2010.

• President Clinton's proposed Electricity Restructuring - 40 to 60 million MMTCE in 2010.

• Voluntary utility company reductions through Climate Challenge -- 47 MMTCE in 2000.

• National goal of supplying 5% of U.S. electricity through wind energy by 2020 -- 30 MMTCE by 2020.

• National goal to double use of Combined Heat and Power (CHP) by 2010 -- 30 MMTCE annual reduction.

• National goal to convert 10% of electricity use in the western states to geothermal energy by 2020 -- 20 MMTCE by 2020.

• Energy Star product label -- 100 MMTCE cumulative emission reduction by 2010.

• Four new minimum efficiency standards for home appliances -- 22 MMTCE cumulative emission reductions through 2010.

• National goal to cut energy use in new homes by 50% and by 30% in 15 million existing homes -- 24 MMTCE by 2010.

• President Clinton directs greenhouse gases from federal government buildings be cut by 30% by 2010 - 2.4 MMTCE.

• Partners in EPA's Methane Reduction Programs are expected to hold methane emissions at or below 1990 levels through 2010 -- 120 MMTCE cumulative emission reduction by 2010.

• The Department of Energy's public-private Environmental Stewardship Partnerships programs are substantially reducing U.S. emissions of PFC's and several HFC's, the "high global warming potential" (GWP) gases, which are released as byproducts of industrial operations. -- 80 MMTCE cumulative emission reduction by 2010.

• The Environmental Protection Agency's WasteWise program works to reduce municipal solid waste and greenhouse gas emissions through energy savings, increased carbon sequestration, and avoided methane emissions from landfills. -- 19 MMTCE since program inception.

• Industries of the Future partnership works in partnerships with the nation's most energy-intensive industries, enhancing their long-term competitiveness, and accelerating research, development, and deployment of technologies that increase energy and resource efficiency. -- 15 MMTCE by 2010.