Fusing subnational with national climate action is central to decarbonization: the case of the United States

Nathan E. Hultman (), Leon Clarke, Carla Frisch, Kevin Kennedy, Haewon McJeon, Tom Cyrs, Pete Hansel, Paul Bodnar, Michelle Manion, Morgan R. Edwards, Ryna Cui, Christina Bowman, Jessie Lund, Michael I. Westphal, Andrew Clapper, Joel Jaeger, Arijit Sen, Jiehong Lou, Devashree Saha, Wendy Jaglom, Koben Calhoun, Kristin Igusky, James deWeese, Kareem Hammoud, J. C. Altimirano, Margaret Dennis, Chris Henderson, Gill Zwicker and John O’Neill
Additional contact information
Nathan E. Hultman: School of Public Policy, University of Maryland
Leon Clarke: School of Public Policy, University of Maryland
Carla Frisch: Rocky Mountain Institute
Kevin Kennedy: World Resources Institute
Haewon McJeon: School of Public Policy, University of Maryland
Tom Cyrs: World Resources Institute
Pete Hansel: Independent
Paul Bodnar: Rocky Mountain Institute
Michelle Manion: World Resources Institute
Morgan R. Edwards: School of Public Policy, University of Maryland
Ryna Cui: School of Public Policy, University of Maryland
Christina Bowman: School of Public Policy, University of Maryland
Jessie Lund: Rocky Mountain Institute
Michael I. Westphal: World Resources Institute
Andrew Clapper: CDP North America
Joel Jaeger: World Resources Institute
Arijit Sen: School of Public Policy, University of Maryland
Jiehong Lou: School of Public Policy, University of Maryland
Devashree Saha: World Resources Institute
Wendy Jaglom: Rocky Mountain Institute
Koben Calhoun: Rocky Mountain Institute
Kristin Igusky: World Resources Institute
James deWeese: World Resources Institute
Kareem Hammoud: Rocky Mountain Institute
J. C. Altimirano: World Resources Institute
Margaret Dennis: World Resources Institute
Chris Henderson: World Resources Institute
Gill Zwicker: World Resources Institute
John O’Neill: School of Public Policy, University of Maryland

Nature Communications, 2020, vol. 11, issue 1, 1-10

Abstract: Abstract Approaches that root national climate strategies in local actions will be essential for all countries as they develop new nationally determined contributions under the Paris Agreement. The potential impact of climate action from non-national actors in delivering higher global ambition is significant. Sub-national action in the United States provides a test for how such actions can accelerate emissions reductions. We aggregated U.S. state, city, and business commitments within an integrated assessment model to assess how a national climate strategy can be built upon non-state actions. We find that existing commitments alone could reduce emissions 25% below 2005 levels by 2030, and that enhancing actions by these actors could reduce emissions up to 37%. We show how these actions can provide a stepped-up basis for additional federal action to reduce emissions by 49%—consistent with 1.5 °C. Our analysis demonstrates sub-national actions can lead to substantial reductions and support increased national action.

Date: 2020
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-18903-w

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