US Must Cut Carbon from Power Plants to Hit Greenhouse Gas Target

WASHINGTON (September 26, 2013) – The United States can meet President Obama’s commitment to cut its greenhouse emissions 17 percent below 2005 levels by 2020, but only if we set common-sense limits on carbon pollution from our power plants. That’s the inescapable conclusion from the draft 2014 Climate Action Report released today by the State Department.

Frances Beinecke, president of the Natural Resources Defense Council, made the following comment:

“We're making real progress on cutting the dangerous carbon pollution that's driving climate change. To hit the target, keep our promise and protect our children from climate chaos, we have to build on that progress.

“We have to cut the carbon emissions from our power plants; invest in wind, solar and other sources of renewable power; promote efficiency; and reduce other climate-changing gases like methane and hydrofluorocarbons.”