Nat Keohane’s State of the Union Response

Statement of Nathaniel Keohane
President, Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES) 

March 7, 2024

“As President Biden rightly noted this evening, climate policy is economic policy. Job creation, economic development, advanced manufacturing—these are the opportunities of the clean energy transition. Over the past year we’ve seen growing evidence of a historic climate agenda at work: the Inflation Reduction Act and bipartisan infrastructure bill are investing in communities, strengthening the economy, building out the infrastructure we need to meet the ambitious goal of cutting U.S. greenhouse gas emissions 50-52 percent below 2005 levels by 2030. These laws are creating jobs and launching a revolution in U.S. climate progress.

“Even so, more policies are needed to meet our goals. We need to expedite permitting reforms to support job creating, and emissions reducing, projects across the country. We also need additional policies to cut emissions through the economy and position America to lead the world in the low-carbon economy. Staying in the Paris Agreement, and setting the pace in climate ambition through a new emissions target next year, will also be vital.

“C2ES is committed to advancing effective policy to meet emissions goals in partnership with top companies and with leaders in both parties who recognize that combatting climate change is an investment in our economic future.”

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About C2ES: The Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES) works to secure a safe and stable climate, by accelerating the global transition to net-zero greenhouse gas emissions and a thriving, just, and resilient economy. Learn more at www.c2es.org.