The U.S. is setting an ambitious goal for reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, President Joe Biden said Thursday at the beginning of a two-day climate summit of world leaders. The new target aims for reducing emissions by at least 50% from 2005 levels.
A White House fact sheet on the new target said that the Biden administration "analyzed how every sector of the economy can spur innovation, unleash new opportunities, drive competitiveness, and cut pollution." In addition to reducing emissions, the plan is aimed at creating good-paying jobs and making the U.S. a leader in clean energy technologies, the White House said.
The target of 50% to 52% reduction from 2005 levels by 2030 is known as a nationally determined contribution, a term used for signatories of the Paris Agreement on climate change. The new goal will be formally submitted to the United Nations.
Mr. Biden has already set the goal of creating a carbon pollution-free power sector by 2035 and a net-zero emissions economy no later than 2050.
The effort will involve working closing with the private sector and federal, state, local and tribal governments to mobilize investment to support the goals and boost the economy.
Mr. Biden will also challenge other countries during the Leaders Summit on Climate to increasing their ambitions for combating climate change.
The new emissions reduction goal places the U.S. on a "credible pathway to reach net-zero emissions by 2050," Ceres CEO and President Mindy Lubber said.
