# T HE 

# P RE S I D E N T 

# ’ S 

# C L I MA T E 

# A C T IO N 

# P LAN



# Ex e c uti v e O ffi c e o f the P re s i d e nt

J un e 20132 

### T a ble of C on te n t s

C U T C A R B O N P O LLUT ION IN A MER I C A

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I

. Deplo y i n g C lean E n e r g y

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C utt i n g C ar b on P o l lut i on f rom P o w er P la n ts

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P ro m o t i n g A m e r i c an L ea d er s h i p i n Re n ewa b le E n e r gy

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Un l o ck i n g L o ng

‐ T e r m I n v e stm e n t i n C l ea n E n e r g y I nn o v a t io n

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I I

. B ui l di ng a 21 s t

‐ Ce nt u r y T r a ns p o r t a t io n Se ct o r

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I n c re a si n g F u e l E c o n o m y S ta n dar d s

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De v e l o p i ng a nd De pl o y i ng A d v a nc e d T r a ns p o r t a t io n T e c h n o l o g ie s

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III. C utt i n g E n e r g y W a s t e i n Ho m e s

, B u si n e ss e s

, a n d F a c to r i e s

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R edu c i ng E n e r gy B i ll s f o r Am e r i c a n F a m i l ie s a nd B u s i n e ss e s

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I V

. Re d u c i n g Other Gr e e n h o u s e Gas E m i s s io n s

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C ur b i n g E mi s s i o n s of H y drofl u or o c ar b o n s

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Redu c i n g Metha n e E m is s i o n s

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P re s er v i n g the Role of F ore s ts i n M i t i g at i n g C l i m ate C ha ng e

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V

. L ead i n g at the F ederal L e v e l

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L eadi ng i n C l e a n E n e r gy

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P RE PA RE T HE U N I T E D S TA T ES F OR T HE IM PA C T S OF C L IM A T E C H A N G E

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.

B u i l d i n g S t r o ng er a n d S a f er C o m m u n i t i es a n d I n fr a s tr u c ture

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D i r e c t i n g Ag e n c i es to S u p port C l i m ate

‐ R e s i l i e n t I nv e s t m e n t

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E s ta b l i s h i n g a S tate, L o c a l

, a n d T r i b al L e ade r s T a s k F o r c e on C l im a t e P r e p a r e d n e ss

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S uppor t i n g C o m m u n i t i es as t h ey P repare for C l i m a t e I m p a cts

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B oo s t i n g the R e si l i e nc e of B u i l d i ng s a n d I n fra s t r u c t u r e

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Re b u i l d i n g a n d L ear n i n g f rom Hu r r i c a n e S a n dy

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I I

. P r o t e ct i ng o u r E c o n o my a nd N a t u r a l R e s ou r c e s

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Ide n t i f y i n g V ul n e r a b i l i t i e s of Key S e c to r s to C l i m a t e C ha ng e

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P ro m o t i n g Re s i l i e n c e i n t he Heal t h S e c t or

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P ro m o t i n g I n s u r a n c e L e a der s h i p f or C l i m ate S afe t y

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C o ns er v i n g L a n d a n d W a t er Re s our c es

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Ma i n t a i n i n g Ag r ic ul t ural Su st ai n a b i l i ty

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Ma n a g i n g Drou g ht

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Redu c i n g W i ld f i re R i s k s

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P repar i n g for F u ture F lo o ds

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I I I

. Us i ng Sou nd S c ie nce to Ma n a ge C l i m a te I m p a c t s

... . .. . . . ......................................... . ................................ . 1 63 De v elo p i n g A c t io n a b le C l i m ate S c i e n c e

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A ss e s si n g C l i m a t e

‐ C ha ng e I m pa c t s i n t he U n i ted S t a tes

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L au n c h i n g a C l i m ate Da t a I n i t i a t i v e

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P ro v i d i n g a T o o l k i t f o r C l i m ate R e s i l i e n c e :

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L E A D I N T E R N A T I O N AL E FF O R TS TO A D D R ES S G L O B AL C L I M ATE CH A N G E

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I. W or k i n g w i th Other C o u n tr i es to T a k e A c t i o n to A d dre s s C l i m ate C h a ng e

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E n ha nc i n g Mul t i late r al E ng a g e m e n t w i t h Ma j or E c o n o m ie s

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E x pa n d i n g B i lateral C o operat i on w i th Ma j or E m er g i n g E c o n o m i es

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C o m b att i n g S hor t

‐ L i v ed C l i m ate P ol l uta n ts

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Redu c i n g E m is s i o n s fr o m Def o r e s tat i o n a n d F o r e s t De g r adat i on

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E x pa n d i n g C l ean E n er g y Us e a n d Cut E n er g y W a s t e

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N e g ot i a t i n g Glo b al F r ee T rade i n E n v i ro n m e n tal G o o ds a n d S er vi c es

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P ha s i n g Out S u b si d i e s th a t E n c o u ra g e W a s t e ful C o n s u m pt i on of F o s si l F ue l s

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L ead i n g Glo b al S e c tor P u b l i c F i n a n ci n g T o w ards Cl ea n er E n er g y

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S tre ng the n i n g Glo b al R e si l i e nc e to C l i m a t e C ha ng e

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Mo b i l i z i n g C l i m ate F i n a n c e

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I I

. L eadi ng E ff o r ts to A dd r e ss C l i m a te C ha nge th r ou gh In t e r n a t i o n a l N e g o t ia t io n s

.... . . . .. . .. . . . .. . . . . . 2 14 P R ES ID E NT O B A M A ’ S C L I M A T E AC T ION P L AN

“ W e , the p e opl e , still b e li ev e that our obligations as Am e ri c ans are not just to ours e l ve s, but to

all post e rit y

. W e w ill r e s pond to the thr e at of c li m ate c hang e

, k no w ing that the failure to do so

w ould b e tray our c hildr e n and future g e n e rations. Some may still d e ny the o ve r w h e l m ing

judgm e nt of s c i e n ce , but none c an a v oid the d ev a s tating impa c t of raging f i r e s and c rippling

drought and more po w e rful storms.

T

he path to w ards sustai n able e n e rgy sou r ce s w ill be long and som e tim e s d i ffi c ult. But Am e ri c a

c annot r e sist this transi ti on, w e must l e ad it. W e c annot ce de to oth e r nations the t ec hnology that

w ill po w e r n e w jo b s and n e w industri e s, w e must c laim its promis e

. T hat ’ s how w e w ill maint a in

our ec onomic v itality and our national tr e asure

- - our for e sts and w at e r w a y s, our c roplands and

sno w

- c app e d p e a k s. T hat is how w e w ill pr e s e r v e our plan e t, c ommand e d t o our c are by God.

T

hat ’ s w hat w i ll l e nd m e aning to the c r ee d our fath e rs on c e d ec lar e d.”

- - Pr e sid e nt Obama, S e c ond I naugural Addr e ss, J anuary 2013

T HE CA S E F OR AC T I ON

W hile no sin g le st e p ca n re v er s e the ef f

ec ts of c l i m a te c h a n g e , we h a v e a mo ra l obli g a tion to

f utu r e g e n era tions to l ea v e th e m a pl a n e t th a t is not pollut e d a nd d a m a g e d. Th r ou g h s t ea d y

,

re sponsible ac tion to c ut car bon pollution, we c a n p r ot ec t our c hild re n ’ s h e a lth a nd b e g in to slow

the ef f

ec ts of c li m a te c h a n g e so t h a t we l ea ve b e h i nd a c l ea n e r

, m o r e st a b l e e nvi r on m e nt.

I n 2009, P r e sid e nt Ob a ma m a de a pl e d g e th a t b y 2 020, A m er i c a would re d u c e its g ree nhou s e g as

e m issions in the ra nge of 17 p erce nt b e low 2005 l e v e ls if a ll oth e r m a jor e c ono m i e s a g r e e d to

li m it th e ir e m issions a s w e ll. Tod a y , the P r e sid e nt re m a ins f i r m l y c om m itt e d to th a t g o a l a nd to

building on the p r o g r e ss of his f i r st t er m to h e lp put us a nd the wo r ld on a sust a in a ble lon g

- t er m

t ra j ec to r y . Th a nks in p a r t to the Administ r a tion ’ s s u cce ss in doubling Am e r i ca’ s use of wind,

sol ar

, a nd g e oth e r m a l e n e rg y a nd in e st a blishi n g t he tou g h e st f u e l e c ono m y st a nd a r ds in our

histo r y , we a r e c r ea ti n g n e w jobs, building n e w i n dust r i e s, a nd re d u c ing d a n g e r ous c a r bon

pollution whi c h c ont r ibut e s to c li m a te c h a n g e

. I n fac t, l a st y ea r

, c a r bon e m i ssions fr om the

e n e rg y s e c tor fe ll to the low e st l e v e l in two d e c a d e s. At the s a m e t i m e , wh i le th er e is mo r e w o r k

to do, we ar e m o r e e n e r gy s e c u r e th a n a t a n y ti m e in rece nt histo r y

. I n 201 2 , A m er i c a ’ s n e t oil

i m po r ts fe ll to the low e st l e v e l in 20 y e ar s a nd w e h a ve b e c o m e the w o r ld ’ s l ea ding p r odu c e r of

n a tu ra l g a s

– the c l ea n e st

- bu r ning f ossil f u e l.

W hile this p r o g re ss is e n c ou r a g i n g

, c li m a te c h a n ge is no lon g e r a dist a nt th rea t

– we a r e a l r e a d y

fee li n g its imp ac ts acr oss the c ount r y a nd the w o r ld. L a st y e a r w a s the w a r m e st y e a r e v e r in the

c onti g uous Unit e d S t a t e s a nd a bout on e

- thi r d of a l l A m er i ca ns e x p er i e n c e d 10 d a y s o r m o r e o f

100

- d e g r e e h e a t. The 12 hott e st y e ar s on r ec o r d h a ve a ll c ome in the l a st 1 5 y e ar s. Asth m a ra t es

h a ve doubl e d in the p a st 30 y e ar s a nd our c hild re n will su ffe r mo r e a sthma a tt ac ks a s a ir

pollution g e ts wo r s e . A n d in crea si n g f loods, h e a t w a v e s, a nd d r o u g hts h a v e put far m er s out of

busin e ss, whi c h is a l r e a d y r a ising f ood p r i ce s d r a m a ti ca l l y

.

Th e se c h a ng e s c o m e wi t h far

- re a c hi n g c ons e q u e n ce s a nd r ea l e c ono m ic c o sts. L a st y e a r a lon e,

th er e w e r e 11 di f f

ere nt w ea th e r a nd c li m a te dis a s t e r e v e nts with e sti m a t e d l oss e s e x cee ding $1

billion eac h acr oss the U nit e d S t a t e s. T a k e n to g e t h er , th e se 11 e v e nts re su l t e d in ov e r $110

billion in e sti m a t e d d a m a g e s, whi c h would m a ke i t the s ec ond

- c ostli e st y ea r on rec o r d.5 I n sh o r t, Am er i c a st a nds a t a cr iti ca l jun c tu r e . To d a y

, P r e sid e nt Ob a ma is putting f o r w ar d a

b r o a d

- b a s e d pl a n to c ut t he car bon pollution th a t c a us e s c li m a te c h a n g e a nd aff e c ts public h ea lth.

C utting car bon pollution will h e lp sp ar k busin e ss innov a tion to m od er ni z e our pow e r pl a nts,

re sulting in c l e a n e r f o r m s of A m er i c a n

- m a d e e n e rg y th a t will c r ea te g ood j obs a nd c ut our

d e p e nd e n c e on f o re i g n o i l. C o m bin e d with the A d m inist ra tion ’ s oth e r ac ti o ns to in crea se the

eff i c i e n c y of our car s a nd hous e hold a ppli a n ce s, t h e P re sid e nt ’ s pl a n will r e du c e the a mount of

e n e rg y c onsu m e d b y Am er i ca n fa mili e s, c utting d own on th e ir g a s a nd utili t y bills. The pl a n,

whi c h c onsists of a wide v ar i e t y of e x ec utive ac ti o ns, h a s th re e k e y pill ar s:

1) C u t Ca r b on P oll u t ion in A m er i c a: I n 2012, U. S

. car bon e m issions f e ll to the low e st l e v e l

in two d eca d e s e v e n a s the ec ono m y c ontinu e d to g r o w. To build on this p r o g r e ss, the Ob a ma

Ad m inist ra tion is putting in pl ac e tou g h n e w r ul e s to c ut car bon pollution

– just like we h a ve

f

or oth e r to x ins like m er c u r y a nd ar s e nic

– so we p r ot ec t the h e a lth of our c hild re n a nd m ove

our ec ono m y tow a r d Am er i ca n

- m a d e c l e a n e n e r gy sou r ce s th a t will c r ea te g ood jobs a nd

low e r ho m e e n e rg y bills.

2) P r e p a r e t h e U n i te d S t a te s f or t h e I m p a ct s o f C li m a t e C h a n g e : Ev e n a s we t a ke n e w st e ps

to re du c e car bon polluti o n, we m ust a lso p re p a r e f or the i m p ac ts of a c h a n ging c li m a te th at

ar e a l rea d y b e i n g fe lt ac r oss the c ount r y . Moving f o r w ar d, the Ob a m a A d m inist ra tion will

h e lp st a te a nd lo ca l g o v e r n m e nts st re n g t h e n our r o a ds, b r idg e s, a nd sho r e lin e s so we c a n

b e tt e r p r ot e c t p e opl e’ s h o m e s, busin e ss e s a nd w a y of li f e fr om s e v er e w ea t h er

.

3) L e ad I n ter n a t io n al E f f

o rt s t o C o m b at G lo b al Cli m a t e C h a n ge a n d P r e p a r e f or i t s

I m p a c t s: J ust a s no c ount r y is im m une f r om the i m p ac ts of c li m a te c h a n g e , no c ount r y ca n

m ee t this c h a ll e n g e a lon e . Th a t is w h y it is i m p era t ive f or the Unit e d S t a t e s to c ouple ac tion

a t ho m e with l ea d er ship i nt er n a tion a l l y . Am er i c a must h e lp f o r ge a t r u l y g l ob a l solution to

this g lob a l c h a ll e n ge b y g a lv a ni z ing int er n a tion a l ac tion to si g ni f i ca nt l y r e du c e e m issions

( p ar ti c ul ar l y a m o n g the m a jor e m itting c ount r i e s )

, p re p a r e f o r c li m a te im p ac ts, a nd d r ive

p r og re ss th r o u g h the int e r n a tion a l n e g oti a tions.

C li m a te c h a n g e r e p re s e nts one of our g r e a t e st c h a l l e n g e s of o u r ti m e , but it is a c h a ll e n ge

uniqu e l y suit e d to A m er i ca’ s st re n g ths. Our s c i e ntists will d e si g n n e w f u e ls, a nd our far m e r s will

g r o w th e m . Our e n g in ee r s to d e vise n e w sou r c e s of e n e rg y , o u r wo r k er s wi l l build th e m

, a nd our

busin e ss e s will s e ll th e m. All of us will n ee d to do our p ar t. I f we e m b ra c e t his c h a ll e ng e , we will

not just crea te n e w jobs a nd n e w indust r i e s a nd k e e p A m er i c a on the c utti n g e d g e ; we will s a ve

liv e s, p r ot ec t a nd p re s er ve our t rea su re d n a tu ra l r e sou rce s, c iti e s, a nd c o a stlin e s f or f utu r e

g e n era tions.

W h a t f ollows is a blu e p r int f or st ea d y

, r e sponsi b le n a tion a l a nd int er n a tion a l ac tion to slow the

eff e c ts of c li m a te c h a n g e so we l ea ve a c l e a n er

, m o r e st a ble e nvi r onm e nt f or f utu r e g e n e r a tions.

I t h i g hli g hts p r o g re ss a l r ea d y s e t in motion b y the Ob a m a Ad m inist ra tion to a dv a n c e th e se g o a ls

a nd s e ts f o r th n e w s t e ps to ac hi e ve t h e m

.6 C UT C A R B ON P O L L UT I ON I N AME R I C A

I n 2009, P r e sid e nt Ob a ma m a de a c ommi t m e nt to re du c e U. S . g ree nhou s e g a s e m issions in the

ra n g e of 17 p er c e nt b e l o w 2005 l e v e ls b y 2020. T he P re sid e nt re m a ins f i r m l y c om m i tt e d to

ac hi e vi n g th a t g o a l. W hile th er e is mo r e wo r k to d o, the Ob a m a Administ r a tion h a s a l rea d y m a de

si g ni f i ca nt p r o g re ss b y d oubling g e n e ra tion of e l e c t r i c i t y fr om wind, sol a r

, a nd g e oth er m a l, a nd

b y e st a blishi n g histo r ic n e w f u e l e c ono m y st a nd a r ds. B uilding on th e se ac h i e v e m e nts, this

do c u m e nt outlin e s a ddition a l st e ps the Ad m inist r a tion will t a ke

– in p ar tn er ship with st a t e s, lo ca l

c ommuniti e s, a nd the p r iv a te s ec tor

– to c ontinue on a p a th to m ee ti n g the P re sid e nt ’ s 2020

g o a l.

I. D e plo y i n g C l e an En e rgy

C u tt i n g Ca r b on P oll u t ion f r om P ow er P la n t s: P ow e r pl a nts a r e the l a r g e st c on ce nt ra t e d sou r c e

of e m issions in the Unit e d S t a t e s, to g e th e r a c c ou n ting f or r o u g h l y o n e

- thi r d of a ll do m e stic

g r ee nhouse g a s e m issions. W e h a ve a l rea d y s e t li m its f or ar s e ni c , m erc u r y

, a nd l ea d, but th e r e is

no fe d e r a l r ule to p r e v e nt pow e r p l a nts fr om re l ea s ing a s m u c h c a r bon pollution a s th e y w a nt.

M a n y st a t e s, lo ca l g ov e r n m e nts, a nd c o mp a ni e s h a ve t a k e n st e ps to m o v e to c l ea n e r e l e c t r i c i t y

sou rce s. Mo r e th a n 35 s t a t e s h a ve re n e w a ble e n e rg y t a r g e ts in pl ace

, a nd mo r e th a n 25 h a ve s et

e n e rg y e ff i c i e n c y t a r g e ts.

D e spite this p r og re ss a t t he st a te l e v e l, th er e a r e no fe d e r a l st a nd ar ds in pl ac e to re d u c e c ar bon

pollution fr om pow e r pl a nts. I n A p r il 2012, a s p a r t of a c ontinu e d e ff o r t to m od er ni z e our e l ec t r ic

pow e r s e c to r , the O b a ma Ad m inist ra tion p r opos e d a car bon pollution st a n d ar d f or n e w po w e r

pl a nts. The Envi r on m e n t a l P r ot ec tion Ag e n c y ’ s p r opos a l ref l e c ts a nd re in f o rce s the o n g oi n g

t re nd tow ar ds c l ea n e r t e c hnolo g i e s, w ith n a tu ra l g a s in crea si n g its sh ar e o f e l ec t r i c i t y g e n e r a tion

in rece nt y e ar s, p r i n c ip a lly th r o u g h m a r k e t f o r c e s a nd re n e w a bl e s d e pl o y m e nt g r o wi n g ra pid l y to

acc ount f o r r o u g h l y h a lf of n e w g e n e r a tion ca p ac it y inst a ll e d in 2012.

W ith a bund a nt c l ea n e n e r g y soluti o ns a v a il a b l e

, a nd building on the l ea d e r ship of st a t e s a nd

lo ca l g o v er n m e nts, w e c a n m a ke c ontinu e d p ro g r e ss in re du c i n g pow e r p l a nt pollution to

i mp r ove public h ea lth a n d the e nvi r on m e nt while supp l y i n g the r e li a bl e

, a f f

o r d a ble po w er

n ee d e d f o r e c ono m ic g r o wth. B y doi n g so, we wi l l c ontinue to d r ive A m er i ca n l ea d er ship in

c l ea n e n e rg y t e c hnolo g i e s, su c h a s eff i c i e nt n a tu r a l g a s, nu c l ear

, r e n e w a bl e s, a nd c l ea n c o al

t ec hnolo g y

.

To acc o m plish th e se g o a ls, P re sid e nt Ob a m a is issuing a P r e sid e nti a l M e mo ra ndum di r e c ting the

Envi r on m e nt a l P r ot ec ti o n Ag e n c y to wo r k e x p e ditious l y to c o mp l e te c ar b o n pollution st a nd ar ds

f

or both n e w a nd e x isting pow e r pl a nts. This wo r k will build on the su cce ss f ul f i r st

- t er m eff o r t to

d e v e lop g r e e nhouse g a s a nd f u e l e c ono m y st a nd a r ds f or c ar s a nd t r u c ks. I n d e v e loping t h e

st a nd ar ds, the P re sid e nt h a s a sk e d the Envi r on m e n t a l P r ot e c tion A g e n c y to build on st a te

l ea d er ship, p r ovide f l e x ibili t y

, a nd t a ke a dv a nt a ge of a wide ra n ge of e n e rg y sou r ce s a nd

t ec hnolo g i e s in c luding m a n y ac tions in this pl a n.

P r o m o t i n g A m er i c an L e a d er s h ip in R e n e wa b le En er gy: Du r i n g the P re s id e nt ’ s f i r st t er m , the

Unit e d S t a t e s m o r e th a n doubl e d g e n e r a tion of e l e c t r i c i t y fr om wind, sol ar

, a nd g e oth er m al

sou rce s. To e ns u r e Am e r i ca’ s c ontinu e d l e a d e r sh i p position in c l ea n e n e r g y

, P re sid e nt O b a m a

h a s s e t a g o a l to double r e n e w a b l e e l e c t r i c i t y g e n e ra tion on c e a g a in b y 20 2 0. I n o r d e r to m e et7 this a m bitious t ar g e t, the Ad m inist ra tion is a nnou n c ing a numb e r of n e w eff o r ts in the f ollowing

k e y ar e a s:

• A cce l er a t i n g Cl e an En er gy P e r m i tt i n g: I n 2012 the P re sid e nt s e t a g o a l to issue p er m its

f

or 10 g i g a w a tts of re n e w a bl e s on public l a nds b y t h e e nd of the y e ar . The D e p ar t m e nt o f

the I nt er i o r ac hi e v e d this g o a l a h ea d of s c h e dule a nd the P r e sid e nt h as di rec t e d it to

p er m it a n a ddition a l 10 g i g a w a tts b y 2020. S in c e 2009, the D e p ar t m e nt of I nt e r ior h a s

a pp r ov e d 25 utili t y

- s ca le sol a r f a c iliti e s, nine wind fa r m s, a nd 1 1 g e ot h er m al pl a nts,

whi c h will p r ovide e no u g h e l e c t r i c i t y to pow e r 4.4 m illion ho m e s a n d suppo r t a n

e sti m a t e d 17,000 jobs. The Ad m inist ra tion is a lso t a king st e ps to e n c ou r a ge the

d e v e lop m e nt of h y d r o e l e c t r ic pow e r a t e x isting d a m s. To d e v e lop a nd d e m onst ra te

i mp r ov e d p er m itting p r o ce du re s f o r su c h p r oj ec ts, the Ad m inist ra tion will d e si g n a te the

R e d R o c k H y d r o e l e c t r ic P l a nt on the D e s Moi n e s R iv e r in I o wa to p ar ti c ip a te in its

I n fra st r u c tu r e Pe r m itting D a shbo ar d f or h i g h

- p r io r i t y p r oj ec ts. Also, the D e p ar t m e nt of

D efe nse

– the si n g le l a r g e st c onsu m e r of e n e rg y i n the Unit e d S t a t e s

– is c om m itt e d to

d e pl o y i n g 3 g i g a w a tts of re n e w a ble e n e rg y on m ilit a r y inst a ll a tions, in c lud i ng sol ar,

wind, bio m a ss, a nd g e ot h er m a l, b y 2025. I n a ddition, fe d e r a l a g e n c i e s a r e s e tting a n e w

g o a l of r e ac hi n g 100 m e g a w a tts of inst a ll e d re n e w a ble ca p ac i t y acr oss the f e d era l l y

subsidi z e d housing sto c k b y 2020. This e ff o r t will in c lude c ondu c ti n g a su r v e y o f c u r re nt

p r oj ec ts in o r d e r to t r ac k p r og re ss a nd fac ilit a te t h e sh ar ing o f b e st p r a c ti c e s.

• E x p a n d i n g a n d M o d er n i z i n g t h e E l ectr ic G r i d : Upg ra di n g the c ount r y ’ s e l ec t r ic g r id

is cr iti ca l to our eff o r ts to m a ke e l e c t r i c i t y m o r e r e li a bl e , s a ve c onsum er s m on e y on t h e ir

e n e rg y bills, a nd p r o m ote c l ea n e n e rg y sou r ce s. To a dv a n c e th e se i m po r t a nt g o a ls,

P re sid e nt Ob a m a si g n e d a P re sid e nti a l M e m o ra n d um this m onth th a t di rec ts fe d e r al

a g e n c i e s to st r e a m line the sitin g , p er m itting a nd r e vi e w p r o ce ss f or t ra ns m ission p r oj ec ts

acr oss f e d e r a l, st a t e

, a nd t r ib a l g ov e r n m e nts.

U n lo c k i ng L o n g

- T erm I n v e s t m e n t in Cl e an En e r gy I nn ova t io n : The F is ca l Y ea r 2014

B u d g e t c ontinu e s the P r e sid e nt ’ s c ommi t m e nt to k ee pi n g the Unit e d S t a t e s a t the f o r e fr ont of

c l ea n e n e rg y r e s e a rc h, d e v e lop m e nt, a nd d e pl o y m e nt b y in c re a si n g f undi n g f or c l e a n e n e rg y

t ec hnolo g y acr oss a ll a g e n c i e s b y 30 p e r c e nt, to a p p r o x i m a t e l y $7.9 billion. This in c lud e s

inv e st m e nt in a ra n g e o f e n e rg y t e c hnolo g i e s, f r o m a dv a n ce d bio f u e ls a nd e m e r g i n g nu c l e ar

t ec hnolo g i e s

– in c luding s m a ll m odul a r r e ac to r s

– to c l ea n c o a l. To c ontinue A m er i c a’ s

l ea d er ship in c l e a n e n e r gy innov a tion, the Ad m i n i st ra tion will a lso t a ke the f ollowing st e ps:

• Spu rr i n g I n v e s t m e n t in A d va n ce d F ossil En er gy P r o j e ct s: I n the c o m i n g w ee ks, the

D e p ar t m e nt o f En e rg y will issue a Fe d e ra l R e g ist e r Noti c e a nnoun c i n g a dr af t of a

soli c it a tion th a t would m a ke up to $8 billion in ( s e l f

- p a y ) l o a n g u a r a nt e e a u tho r i t y a v a il a b l e

f

or a wide ar r a y of a d v a n ce d f ossil e n e r g y p r oj e c ts und e r its S ec tion 1703 lo a n g u ara n t e e

p r og ra m . This soli c it a tion is d e si g n e d to suppo r t inv e st m e nts in innov a tive t ec hnolo g i e s th a t

ca n c ost

- e f f

e c tiv e l y m ee t f in a n c i a l a nd poli c y g o a l s, in c luding the a void a n c e

, re du c tion, or

s e qu e st ra tion of a nth r op o g e n i c e m issions of g r e e n house g a s e s. The p r opos e d soli c it a tion will

c ov e r a b r o a d r a n g e o f a d v a n ce d f ossil e n e rg y p r o j ec ts. R ef l ec ti n g the D e p a r t m e nt ’ s

c om m it m e nt to c ontinu o us i m p r ov e m e nt in p r o g r a m m a n a g e m e nt, it will t a ke c om m e nt on

the d raf t soli c it a tion, with a pl a n to issue a f in a l s oli c it a tion b y the f a ll of 2 013.

• I n s t i t u t i n g a F e d er al Q u a d re nn ial E n er gy R e vi e w: I nno v a tion a nd n e w sou rce s of

do m e stic e n e rg y supp l y a r e t ra ns f o r m i n g the n a ti o n ’ s e n e rg y m ar k e tpl a ce

, crea ti n g e c ono m ic8 oppo r tuniti e s a t the s a me ti m e th e y r a ise e nvi r o nm e nt a l c h a ll e n g e s. To e ns u r e th a t fe d eral

e n e rg y poli c y m e e ts our ec ono m i c

, e nvi r onm e nt a l

, a nd s ec u r i t y g o a ls in this c h a n g i n g

l a nds ca p e , the Ad m inist r a tion will c ondu c t a Q u a d re nni a l En e rg y R e vi e w whi c h will be l e d

b y the W hite House Dom e stic P oli c y C oun c il a nd O ff i c e o f S c i e n c e a nd T e c hnolo g y P oli c y

,

suppo r t e d b y a S e c re t ar i a t e st a blish e d a t the D e p a r t m e nt of En e rg y

, a nd in v olving the r obust

e ng a g e m e nt of fe d e r a l a g e n c i e s a nd outside st a k e h old er s. This f i r st

- e v e r re v i e w will f o c us on

in fra st r u c tu r e c h a ll e n g e s, a nd will id e nti f y t h e th r e a ts, r isks, a nd oppo r tunit i e s f or U. S

.

e n e rg y a nd c li m a te s e c u r i t y

, e n a bli n g the fe d e r a l g ov e r n m e nt to t ra nsl a te poli c y g o a ls into a

s e t of a n a l y ti c a l l y b a s e d, c l ear l y ar ti c ul a t e d, s e q u e n ce d a nd i n t e g ra t e d a c tions, a nd p r opos e d

inv e st m e nts ov e r a f o u r

- y ea r pl a nni n g ho r i z on.

II. Bu ild i n g a 21 s t

- C e n t u ry Tra n sportati o n S ec tor

I n cre asi ng F u e l E c o n o m y S t a nd a r d s: H e a v y

- d u t y v e hi c l e s a r e c u rr e nt l y the s ec ond l a r g e st

sou rc e of g ree nhou s e g a s e m issions within t h e t ra nspo r t a tion s ec to r

. I n 20 1 1, the Ob a m a

Ad m inist ra tion f in a li z e d the f i r st

- e v e r f u e l e c on o m y st a nd a r ds f or Mod e l Y ea r 201 4

- 2018 f or

h ea v y

- du t y t r u c ks, bu s e s, a nd v a ns. Th e s e st a nd a r ds will re du c e g r ee nhou s e g a s e m issions b y

a pp r o x i m a t e l y 270 m illion m e t r ic tons a nd s a ve 5 3 0 m illion b arre ls of oil. D u r ing the P r e sid e nt ’s

s ec ond t er m , the Ad m inist ra tion will on c e a g a in p ar tn e r with indust r y l ea d er s a nd oth e r k e y

st a k e hold er s to d e v e lop p ost

- 2018 f u e l ec ono m y s t a nd ar ds f o r h ea v y

- du t y v e hi c l e s to f u r th e r

re du c e f u e l c onsu mption th r ou g h the a ppli ca tion o f a dv a n c e d c ost

- e ff e c tive t ec hnolo g i e s a nd

c ontinue eff o r ts to i mp r ove the e f f i c i e n c y of mov i ng g oods a cr oss the Uni t e d S t a t e s.

The O b a m a Ad m inist ra t i on h a s a l r e a d y e st a bli s h e d the tou g h e st f u e l ec on o my st a nd a r ds f or

p a ss e n g e r v e hi c l e s in U

. S . histo r y . Th e s e st a nd a r ds re qui r e a n a v e r a g e p e r f o r m a n c e e quiv a l e nt o f

54.5 m il e s p e r g a llon b y 2025, whi c h will s a ve the a v e r a ge d r iv e r m o r e th a n $8,000 in f u e l c osts

ov e r the li fe ti m e of t h e v e hi c le a nd e li m in a te six billion m e t r ic tons of car bon pollution

– m o r e

th a n the Unit e d S t a t e s e m its in a n e nti r e y e ar

.

D e v e lo p i n g a n d D e p loy i n g A d va n ce d T r a n s p o r t a t ion T ec hn ologi e s: B io f u e ls h a ve a n

i m po r t a nt r ole to pl a y in in crea si n g our e n e rg y s e c u r i t y

, f ost e r ing r u ra l e c o n o m ic d e v e lop m e nt,

a nd re du c i n g g ree nhou s e g a s e m issions fr om t h e t ra nspo r t a tion s ec to r . T h a t is w h y the

Ad m inist ra tion suppo r ts the R e n e w a ble F u e ls S t a nd ar d, a nd is inv e sting in r e s ea r c h a nd

d e v e lop m e nt to h e lp b r i n g n e x t

- g e n e ra tion bio f u e l s on lin e

. F or e x a m pl e , t h e Unit e d S t a t e s N a v y

a nd D e p a r t m e nts of En e rg y a nd A g r i c ultu r e ar e w o r king with the p r iv a te s e c tor to ac c e l e r a te the

d e v e lop m e nt of c ost

- c omp e titive a dv a n ce d bio f u e l s f or use b y t h e m ilit a r y a nd c om m erc i al

s ec to r s. Mo r e b r o a d l y , t h e Ad m inist ra tion will c ontinue to l e v er a g e p a r tn e r ships b e tw ee n the

p r iv a te a nd public s e c to r s to d e pl o y c l ea n e r f u e ls, in c luding a dv a n ce d b a tt e r i e s a nd f u e l ce ll

t ec hnolo g i e s, in e v e r y t r a nspo r t a tion mod e . The D e p ar t m e nt of E n e rg y ’ s e G a llon in f o r m s d r iv ers

a bout e l ec t r ic ca r o p e r a ting c osts in th e ir st a te

– t h e n a tion a l a v e r a g e is on l y $1.14 p e r g a llon of

g a soline e quiv a l e nt, sh o wing the p r o m ise f or c o n su m e r po c k e tbooks of e l ec t r i c

- p o w e r ed

v e hi c l e s. I n a ddition, in the c o m i n g months, the D e p ar t m e nt of T ra nspo r t a tion will w o r k with

oth e r a g e n c i e s to f u r th e r e x plo r e st ra t e g i e s f or i n t e g r a ting a lt er n a tive f u e l v e ss e ls into the U. S

. f l a g f l ee t. F u r th er , the A d m inist ra tion will c ont i n u e to wo r k with st a t e s, c iti e s a nd towns th r ou g h

the D e p ar tm e nt o f T ra n s po r t a tion, the D e p a r t m e n t of Housing a nd U r b a n D e v e lopm e nt, a nd the

Envi r on m e nt a l P r ot ec ti o n Ag e n c y to i m p r ove t r a nspo r t a tion options, a nd low e r t ra nsp o r t a tion

c osts while p r ot ec ti n g the e nvi r on m e nt in c om m u niti e s n a tionwid e.9 III. Cu tt i n g En e rgy Waste in Ho m e s, B u si n e ss e s, a n d F a c tori e s

R e du c i n g En er gy B ills f or A m er i c an F a m ili e s a n d B u si n e ss e s: En e rg y e ff i c i e n c y is one o f the

c l ea r e st a nd most c ost

- effec tive oppo r tuniti e s to s a ve fa m ili e s mon e y , m a ke our busin e ss e s m o r e

c o mp e titiv e

, a nd r e du c e g r ee nhouse g a s e m issions. I n the P re sid e nt ’ s f i r st t er m , the D e p ar t m e nt

of En e rg y a nd the D e p ar t m e nt of Housing a nd U r b a n D e v e lopm e nt c ompl e t e d eff i c i e n c y

up g r a d e s in mo r e th a n o n e m illion ho m e s, s a ving m a n y fa m i li e s m o r e th a n $400 on th e ir h ea ti n g

a nd c ooling bills in the f i r st y e a r a lon e . The Ad m i nist ra tion will t a ke a ra nge of n e w st e ps g e ared

tow ar ds ac h i e ving P r e sid e nt Ob a m a’ s g o a l of do u bling e n e rg y p r odu c tivi t y b y 2030 r e l a tive to

2010 l e v e ls:

• E s t a b lis h i n g a N e w G oal f or En er gy E f f

i c i e n c y S t a nd a r d s: I n P re sid e nt Ob a m a’ s f i r st

t er m , the D e p ar t m e nt of En e rg y e st a blish e d n e w m in i m um eff i c i e n c y st a nd ar ds f or

dishw a sh er s, r efr i g e ra to r s, a nd m a n y oth e r p r od u c ts. Th r ou g h 2030, th e se s t a nd ar ds will

c ut c onsu m er s’ e l ec t r i c ity bills b y hund r e ds of billions of doll ar s a nd s a ve e nou g h

e l ec t r i c i t y to pow e r m o r e th a n 85 m illion ho m e s f or two y e ar s. To build on this su cce ss,

the Ad m inist ra tion is s e tting a n e w g o a l: E ff i c i e n c y st a nd a r ds f or a ppli a n c e s a nd fe d e ral

buildin g s s e t in the f i r st a nd s ec ond t er m s c o m bi n e d will re du c e c a r bon pollution b y a t

l ea st 3 billion m e t r ic tons c u m ul a tiv e l y b y 2030

– e quiv a l e nt to n ear l y o n e

- h a lf of the

car bon pollution fr om th e e nti r e U. S

. e n e rg y s e c tor f or one y e a r

– while c ontinuing to c ut

fa m ili e s’ e n e rg y bills.

• R e du c i n g B a rr i er s t o I n v e s t m e n t in En er gy E ff i c i e n c y: En e rg y eff i c i e n c y u p g r a d es

b r ing s i g ni f i ca nt c ost s a v in g s, but up fr ont c osts a c t a s a b arr i e r to m o r e wid e sp read

inv e st m e nt. I n re spons e

, the Ad m inist ra tion is c ommitting to a nu m b e r of n e w e x ec utive

ac tions. As soon a s this f a ll, the D e p ar tm e nt of A g r i c ultu r e ’ s R u ra l Utiliti e s S er vi c e will

f in a li z e a p r opos e d upd a t e to its En er g y E ff i c i e n c y a nd C ons er v a tion L o a n P r o g r a m to

p r ovide up to $250 m illi o n f or r u r a l utiliti e s to f in a n c e e f f i c i e n c y inv e st m e nts b y

busin e ss e s a nd ho m e ow n er s a c r oss r u r a l A m er i c a

. The D e p a r t m e nt is a lso st rea m lining

its R u ra l En er g y f or Am e r i c a p r o g ra m to p r ovi d e g ra nts a nd lo a n g u a r a nt ee s di rec t l y to

a g r i c ultu ra l p r odu cer s a n d r u ra l s m a ll busin e ss e s f or e n e rg y eff i c i e n c y a nd re n e w a ble

e n e rg y s y st e m s.

I n a ddition, the D e p a r tm e nt of Housing a nd U r b a n D e v e lopm e nt ’ s e ff o r ts in c lude a $23

m illion Mul t i fa m i l y En e rg y I nno v a tion F und d e s i g n e d to e n a ble a f f

o r d a b l e housing

p r ovid er s, t ec hnol og y f i r m s, aca d e m i c institution s

, a nd phil a nth r opic o r g a n i z a tions to t e st

n e w a pp r o ac h e s to d e liv e r c ost

- e f fec tive re sid e nti a l e n e rg y

. I n o r d e r to a d v a n c e o n g oi n g

eff o r ts a nd b r i n g st a k e h o ld er s t o g e th er , the F e d er a l Housing Ad m inist ra tion will c onv e ne

re p re s e nt a tiv e s of the l e n ding c ommuni t y a nd ot h e r k e y st a k e hold er s f o r a m o r t g a ge

r oundt a ble in J u l y to id e n ti f y options f or f a c to r i n g e n e rg y e ff i c i e n c y into the m o r tg a g e

und er w r iti n g a nd a p p ra i s a l p r o ce ss upon s a l e or r e f in a n c i n g of n e w or e x is t ing ho m e s.

• E x p a n d i n g t h e P re si d e n t’ s B ett e r Bu il d i n g s C h all e n g e : The B e tt e r B ui l din g s

C h a ll e n g e

, f o c u s e d on h e lping A m er i ca n c omm e r c i a l a nd indust r i a l buildi ng s b e c o m e at

l ea st 20 p er c e nt m o r e e n e r g y eff i c i e nt b y 2020, is a l rea d y showi n g re sults. Mo r e th a n 120

div er se o r g a ni z a tions, re p re s e nti n g ov e r 2 billion squ ar e f e e t a r e on t rac k t o m ee t the

2020 g o a l: c utti n g e n er gy use b y a n a v er a ge 2.5 p erce nt a nnu a l l y

, e quiv a l e nt to a bout $58

m illion in e n er g y s a vin g s p e r y e ar . To c o ntinue this su cce ss, the Ad m inist r a tion will

e x p a nd the p r o g r a m to multi fa m i l y housing

– p a r tn er ing both with p r iv a te a nd aff o r d a ble10 building o w n er s a nd pub l ic housing a g e n c i e s to c u t e n e rg y w a st e

. I n a dditi o n, the

Ad m inist ra tion is l a un c hing the B e tt e r B uildin g s A cce l era to r s, a n e w t r a c k th a t will

suppo r t a nd e n c o u r a g e a doption of S t a te a nd lo ca l poli c i e s to c ut e n e rg y w a st e , building

on the m om e ntum of o n going e f f

o r ts a t th a t l e v e l.

I V

. R e d u c i n g Ot h e r Gr ee nh o u se Gas E missio ns

C u r b i ng E m issio n s of Hy d r o f l u o r o c a r b o n s: H y d r o f luo r o c a r bons ( H F C s ) , whi c h a r e p r i m ar i l y

us e d f or r efr i g e ra tion a nd a ir c onditionin g

, a r e pot e nt g r ee nhou s e g a s e s. I n the Unit e d S t a t e s,

e m issions of H F C s a r e e x p ec t e d to n ear l y t r iple b y 2030, a nd doub l e fr om c u rre nt l e v e ls of 1.5

p erce nt o f g r e e nhouse g a s e m issions to 3 p erce nt b y 2020.

To re du c e e m issions of H F C s, the Unit e d S t a t e s ca n a nd will l ea d b o th th r ou g h int er n a tion a l

diplo m a c y a s w e ll a s d o m e stic ac tions. I n f ac t, the Ad m inist ra tion h a s a l r e a d y ac t e d b y i n c luding

a f l e x ible a nd pow erf ul i n ce ntive in the f u e l ec o n omy a nd car bon polluti o n st a nd ar ds f or car s a nd

t r u c ks to e n c ou r a g e a ut o m a k er s to r e du c e H F C l e a k a g e a nd t ra nsition a w a y f r om the most pot e nt

H F C s in v e hi c le a ir c onditioning s y st e m s. Moving f o r w ar d, the Envi r on m e nt a l P r ot ec tion

Ag e n c y will use its a utho r i t y th r o u g h the S i g ni f i ca nt N e w Alt er n a tiv e s P oli c y P r o g ra m to

e n c ou r a ge p r iv a t e s ec tor inv e st m e nt in low

- e m issions t ec hnolo g y b y id e nti f y i n g a nd a pp r ovi n g

c li m a t e

- fr i e nd l y c h e m i ca ls while p r ohibiting cer t a in us e s of the m ost h ar m f ul c h e m i c a l

a lt er n a tiv e s. I n a ddition, the P re sid e nt h a s di r ec t e d his Ad m in i st ra tion to pu rc h a se c l ea n er

a lt er n a tiv e s to H F C s wh e n e v e r f ea sible a nd t r a nsition ov e r ti m e to e quip m e nt th a t us e s s afe r a nd

mo r e sust a in a ble a lt er n a t iv e s.

R e du c i ng Met h a ne E m i ssio n s: C u r bing e m issions of m e t h a ne is c r iti ca l to our ov era ll e ff o r t to

a dd re ss g lob a l c li m a te c h a ng e . M e th a n e c u rre nt l y acc ounts f or r o u g h l y 9 p e rce nt of dom e stic

g r ee nhouse g a s e m issions a nd h a s a g lob a l w ar m i ng pot e nti a l th a t is m o r e th a n 20 tim e s g r ea t er

th a n car bon dio x id e . Not a b l y , sin c e 1990, m e th a n e e m issions in the Unit e d S t a t e s h a ve d e c r e a s e d

b y 8 p e rce nt. This h a s o c c u rre d in p ar t th r o u g h p a r tn er ships w ith indust r y

, both a t ho m e a nd

a b r o a d, in w hi c h we h a v e d e m onst ra t e d th a t we h a ve the t e c hnolo g y to d e liv e r e m issions

re du c tions th a t b e n e f it both our ec ono m y a nd the e nvi r on m e nt. To ac hi e v e a ddition a l p r o g r e ss,

the Ad m inist ra tion will:

• D e v e lo p i n g an I n ter ag e n c y Met h a n e S tr a t e gy: The Envi r on m e nt a l P r ot e c tion Ag e n c y

a nd the D e p ar t m e nts of Ag r i c ultu re , En e rg y

, I n t e r io r

, L a b o r

, a nd T r a nspo r t a tion will

d e v e lop a c omp re h e nsiv e

, int er a g e n c y m e th a ne st r a t e g y . The g r oup will f o c us on

a ss e ssing c u rr e nt e m issions d a t a

, a d d re ssi n g d a ta g a ps, id e nti f y i n g t ec hno l o g i e s a nd b e st

p rac ti ce s f or r e du c i n g e missions, a nd id e nti f y

i n g e x i s ting a utho r iti e s a nd i n ce ntiv e

- b a s ed

oppo r tuniti e s to re du c e m e th a ne e missions.

• P u r s u i n g a Colla b o r a t ive A pp r oa c h t o R e du c i n g E m issio n s: A cr oss t h e ec ono m y,

th er e a r e m ultiple s ec to r s in whi c h m e th a ne e m issions ca n be re d u ce d, fr om c o a l m in es

a nd l a nd f ills to a g r i c ultu r e a nd oil a nd g a s d e v e lop m e nt. F or e x a mpl e , in the a g r i c ultu ral

s ec to r , ov e r the l a st th r e e y e ar s, the Envi r on m e nt a l P r ot ec tion A g e n c y a nd t he

D e p ar t m e nt o f A g r i c ultu r e h a ve w o r k e d with the d a i r y indust r y to in cr e a se t he a doption

of m e th a ne d i g e st e r s th r o u g h l o a ns, in c e ntiv e s, a n d oth e r a s sist a n c e

. I n a d d ition, wh e n it

c o m e s to the oil a nd g a s s ec to r , inv e st m e nts to build a nd upg ra de g a s pip e lin e s will not

on l y put m o r e A m e r i ca ns to wo r k, but a lso re d u c e e m issions a nd e nh a n c e e c ono m ic

p r odu c tivi t y

. F o r e x a mpl e

, a s p ar t of t h e Ad m inist ra tion ’ s eff o r

t to i mp r ove fe d e r a l11 p er m itting f or in fra st r u c t u r e p r oj ec ts, the int era g e n c y B a kk e n Fe d e r a l E x e c utive G r oup is

wo r king with indust r y

, a s w e ll a s st a te a nd t r i b a l a g e n c i e s, to a dv a n c e the p r odu c tion of

oil a nd g a s in the B a k k e n while h e lping to r e du c e v e nting a nd f l ar i n g . Mo v ing f o r w ar d,

a s p ar t of the eff o r t to d e v e lop a n int er a g e n c y m e t h a ne st ra t e g y , t h e Ob a ma

Ad m inist ra tion will wo r k c oll a bo ra tiv e l y with st a te g o v er n m e nts, a s w e ll a s the p r iv a te

s ec to r , to re du c e e m issions acr oss multiple s ec to r s, i mp r ove a ir qu a li t y

, a n d ac hi e ve

public h ea lth a nd e c on o m ic b e n e f its.

P r e s e r vi n g t h e Role of F o r e s t s in M i t iga t i n g Cli m a t e C h a n g e : A m er i c a ’ s f o re sts pl a y a

cr iti ca l r ole in a d d re ssi n g car bon pollution, re m oving n e ar l y 12 p e rce nt of t ot a l U. S

. g r ee nhouse

g a s e m issions eac h y e ar

. I n the f a c e of a c h a n ging c li m a te a nd in cr e a s e d r i s k of wild f i re

, d r ou g ht, a nd p e sts, the c a p ac i t y o f our f o re sts to a bso r b car bon is di m inishin g

. P re ssu r e s to

d e v e lop f o r e st l a nds f or u r b a n or a g r i c ultu ra l us e s a lso c ont r ibute to the d e c line of f o re st c a r bon

s e qu e st ra tion. C ons er v a t i on a nd sust a in a ble m a n a g e m e nt c a n h e lp to e nsu r e our f o r e sts c ontinue

to re m ove c ar bon f r om t he a t m osph e r e while a lso i m p r oving soil a nd w a t e r qu a li t y

, re d u c i n g

wild f i r e r isk, a nd oth e r w i se m a n a g i n g f o r e sts to be m o r e re sili e nt in the f a c t of c li m a te c h a n g e.

The Ad m inist ra tion is w o r king to id e nti f y n e w a p p r o ac h e s to p r ot ec t a nd r e sto r e our f o re sts, a s

w e ll a s oth e r c r iti ca l l a nds ca p e s in c luding g r a ssl a n ds a nd w e tl a nds, in the f a c e of a c h a n g i n g

c li m a t e.

V

. L e adi n g at t h e F e d e ral L evel

L e a d i n g in Cl e an En er gy: P re sid e nt Ob a m a b e li e v e s th a t t h e fe d era l g o v e r n m e nt must be a

l ea d e r in c l ea n e n e rg y a n d e n e rg y e ff i c i e n c y . Un d e r the Ob a ma Ad m inist r a tion, fe d era l a g e n c i es

h a ve re d u ce d g re e nhou s e g a s e m issions b y m o r e th a n 15 p e r ce nt

– the e qu i v a l e nt of p er m a n e nt l y

t a king 1.5 m illion car s o f f the r o a d. To build on t h is rec o r d, the Ad m inist ra t ion is e st a blis h ing a

n e w g o a l: The fe d e ra l g o v er n m e nt will c onsu m e 2 0 p erce nt of its e l ec t r i c i t y fr om re n e w a ble

sou rce s b y 2020

– m o r e t h a n double the c u r re nt g o a l of 7.5 p e r ce nt. I n a ddi t ion, the fe d eral

g ov e r n m e nt will c ontinue to pu r sue g r ea t e r e n e r gy e ff i c i e n c y th a t re d u ce s g r ee nhouse g as

e m issions a nd s a v e s t a x p a y e r doll ar s.

F e de r al G ov e r n m e n t L e a d er s h ip in E n er gy E f f i c i e n c y : On D e c e m b e r 2, 2011, P re sid e nt

Ob a m a s i g n e d a m e m o r a ndum e ntitl e d “ I mpl e m e nt a tion of En e rg y S a vi n gs P r oj ec ts a nd

P erf o r m a n c e

- B a s e d C on t rac ti n g f or E n e rg y S a vi n g s,” c h a ll e n g ing fe d era l a g e n c i e s, in suppo r t of

the B e tt e r B uildi n g s C h a ll e ng e , to e nt e r into $2 billion wo r th of p erf o r m a n c e

- b a s e d c ont r a c ts

within two year s. Pe rf o r m a n c e c ont rac ts d r ive e c ono m ic d e v e lop m e nt, ut i li z e p r iv a te s ec tor

innov a tion, a nd in crea s e eff i c i e n c y a t m in i m um c osts to the t a x p a yer , whi l e a lso p r oviding lo n g

t er m s a vi n g s in e n e rg y c osts. Fe d e r a l a g e n c i e s h a ve c om m itt e d to a pip e line of n e a r l y $2.3

billion fr om ov e r 300 re p o r t e d p r oj ec ts. I n c omi n g m onths, the Ad m inist ra tion will t a ke a

nu m b e r of a c tions to st re n g th e n eff o r ts to p r o m ote e n e rg y e ff i c i e n c y , in c lu d ing th r o u g h

p erf o r m a n c e c ont r a c tin g

. F or e x a m pl e , in o r d e r to in crea se acce ss to ca pit a l m ar k e ts f or

inv e st m e nts in e n e rg y ef f

i c i e n c y , t h e Ad m inist ra tion will ini t i a te a p ar tn er ship with the p r iv a te

s ec tor to wo r k to w ar ds a st a nd ar di z e d c ont r a c t to f in a n c e f e d e r a l inv e stm e n ts in e n e rg y

eff i c i e n c y

. Going f o r w a r d, a g e n c i e s will a lso wo r k to g e th e r to s y n c h r oni z e building c od e s

–

l e v er a g i n g those poli c i e s to i mp r ove the eff i c i e n c y of fe d e ra l l y own e d a nd s uppo r t e d building

sto c k. F in a l l y , t h e Ad m i nist ra tion will l e v er a g e the “ G r e e n B utton” st a nd ar d

– whi c h a g g r e g a t es

e n e rg y d a t a in a s e c u re

, e a s y to use f o r m a t

– within fe d era l fac iliti e s to in crea se th e ir a bili t y to

m a n a g e e n e rg y c onsu m ption, re du c e g ree nhou s e g a s e m issions, a nd m ee t s ust a in a bili t y g o a ls.12 PR E P A R E THE U N I T E D S TATES F OR THE I M P A C TS OF C LI MATE C HANGE

As we a c t to c u r b the g r e e nhouse g a s pollution th a t is d r iving c li m a te c h a n g e , we m ust a lso

p re p ar e f o r the i m p ac ts t h a t ar e too l a te to a void. A cr oss Am er i c a

, st a t e s, c iti e s, a nd c om m uniti e s

ar e t a ki n g st e ps to p r ot ec t th e m s e lv e s b y up d a ting building c od e s, a djusting the w a y th e y m a n a g e

n a tu ra l re sou rce s, inv e sting in m o r e re sili e nt in fra st r u c tu re

, a nd pl a nni n g f or ra pid r e c ov e r y fr om

d a m a g e s th a t non e t h e l e ss o cc u r . T h e fe d era l g ov e r n m e nt h a s a n i m po r t a nt r ole to pl a y in

suppo r ting c om m uni t y

- b a s e d p re p are d n e ss a nd r e sili e n c e eff o r

ts, e st a blishing poli c i e s th a t

p r o m ote p re p are d n e ss, p r ot ec ting cr iti ca l in f r a st r u c tu r e a nd public r e sou r ce s, suppo r ting s c i e n c e

a nd re s e arc h g er m a ne to p re p a r e dn e ss a nd re sili e n ce

, a nd e nsu r i n g th a t fe d era l op e ra tions a nd

fac iliti e s c ontinue to p r ot ec t a nd s e r ve c iti z e ns in a c h a n g i n g c li m a t e.

The O b a m a Ad m inist ra t i on h a s b ee n w o r king to s t re n g th e n Am er i c a’ s c lim a te re sili e n c e sin c e its

ear li e st d a y s. S ho r t l y af t e r c o m i n g into o ff i c e

, P re s id e nt Ob a m a e st a blish e d a n I nt er a g e n c y

C li m a te C h a n g e Ad a pt a t i on T a sk F o r c e a nd, in O c tob e r 2009, the P re sid e nt si g n e d a n E x ec utive

O r d e r di r ec ti n g it to rec o mm e nd w a y s fe d era l pol i c i e s a nd p r o g r a m s c a n b e tt e r p re p a r e the

N a tion f or c h a n g e

. I n M a y 2010, the T a sk F o rc e h ost e d the f i r st N a tion a l C li m a te Ad a pt a tion

S um m it, c onv e ning lo ca l a nd r e g ion a l st a k e hold e r s a nd d ec ision

- m a k er s to id e nti f y c h a ll e n g es

a nd oppo r tuniti e s f or c ol l a bo ra tive a c tion.

I n Fe b r u a r y 2013, fe d e ra l a g e n c i e s re l e a s e d C lim a te C h a nge Ad a pt a tion P l a ns f or the f i r st ti m e,

outlining st ra t e g i e s to p r ot ec t th e ir op era tions, missions, a nd p r og ra m s f r om the effec ts of

c li m a te c h a n g e . The D e p ar t m e nt of T r a nspo r t a tion, f or e x a m pl e , is d e v e l o ping g uid a n c e f or

in c o rpo ra ting c li m a te c h a n g e a nd e x t re m e w ea th e r e v e nt c onsid e r a tions in t o c o a st a l hi g h w a y

p r oj ec ts, a nd the D e p ar t m e nt of Ho m e l a nd Se c u r i t y is e v a lu a ti n g the c h a ll e ng e s of c h a n g i n g

c onditions in the A rc tic a nd a long o u r N a tion ’ s b o r d er s. A g e n c i e s h a v e a lso p ar tn e r e d with

c ommuniti e s th r ou g h t a r g e t e d g ra nt a nd t ec hni ca l

- a ssist a n c e p ro g ra m s

— f o r e x a mpl e , the

Envi r on m e nt a l P r ot ec tion Ag e n c y is wo r ki n g wi t h low

- l y i n g c ommuniti e s in No r th C ar olina to

a ss e ss the vuln era bili t y o f in fra st r u c tu r e inv e st m e nts to s e a l e v e l r ise a nd i d e nti f y solutions to

re du c e r isks. And the A d m inist ra tion h a s c ontinu e d, th r ou g h the U. S . Glo b a l C h a nge R e s e a rch

P r o g r a m , to suppo r t s c i e n c e a nd m onito r i n g to e xp a nd our und er s t a nding o f c li m a te c h a n g e a nd

its i m p ac ts.

Going f o r w a r d, the Ad m i nist ra tion will e x p a nd th e se eff o r ts into th re e m a j o r , int erre l a t ed

initi a tiv e s to b e tt e r p re p ar e A m e r i c a f or the i mp a c ts of c li m a te c h a n g e:

I. Bu ild i n g S t ro n g e r a n d S a fe r C om m u n i t i e s a n d I n

f

rastr u c t u re

B y n e c e ssi t y

, m a n y st a t e s, c iti e s, a nd c ommuniti e s ar e a l r e a d y p l a nning a nd p re p ar i n g f or the

i m p ac ts of c li m a te c h a n g e . Hospit a ls m ust build c a p ac i t y to s er v e p a ti e nts du r ing m o r e f r e qu e nt

h ea t w a v e s, a nd u r b a n pl a nn er s m ust pl a n f or t h e s e v er e sto r m s th a t in f ra s t r u c tu r e will n e e d to

withst a nd. P r o m oting on

- th e

- g r ound p l a nning a nd re sili e nt in fra st r u c tu r e w i ll be a t the c o r e of

our wo r k to st re n g th e n A m er i c a ’ s c om m uniti e s. S p ec i f ic ac tions will in c lud e :

Di rect i n g A g e n c i es t o Supp o r t Cli m a t e

- R e sili en t I n v e s tme n t : The P re s id e nt will di rec t

fe d e r a l a g e n c i e s to id e nt i f y a nd re move b arr i e r s to m a king c li m a t e

- r e sili e nt inv e st m e nts; id e nti f y

a nd re m ove c ount er p r o d u c tive poli c i e s th a t in cr e a se vuln e r a biliti e s; a nd e n c ou r a g e a nd suppo r t

s m ar t er

, m o r e re sili e nt inv e st m e nts, in c luding th r o u g h a g e n c y g r a nts, t ec hn i ca l a ssist a n ce

, a nd

oth e r p r o g ra m s, in s e c to r s fr om t ra nspo r t a tion a nd w a t e r m a n a g e m e nt to c o ns er v a tion a nd13 dis a st e r re li ef . Ag e n c i e s will a lso be di rec t e d to e nsu r e th a t c li m a te r isk

- m a n a g e m e nt

c onsid era tions a r e f ul l y int e g r a t e d into fe d era l in fra st r u c tu r e a nd n a tu r a l r e sou rc e m a n a g e m e nt

pl a nnin g . To b e g in m e e ting this c h a ll e n g e , the E n vi r on m e nt a l P r ot ec tion A g e n c y is c ommitting

to int e g ra t e c onsid e r a tions of c li m a te c h a n g e i mp a c ts a nd a d a ptive m e a su r e s into m a jor

p r og ra m s, in c ludi n g its C l ea n Wa t e r a nd D r inki n g W a t e r S t a te R e volving F unds a nd g ra nts f or

b r own f i e lds c l e a nup, a nd the D e p ar tm e nt of Hous i ng a nd U r b a n D e v e lopm e nt is a l rea d y

re qui r i n g g ra nt r ec ipi e nts in the Hu rr i ca n e S a n d y

– affec t e d r e g ion to t a ke s e a

- l e v e l r ise into

acc ount.

E s t a b lis h i n g a S t a te

, L o c al, a n d T r i b al L e a d ers T ask F o r c e on Cli m a t e P r e p a re dn e ss: To

h e lp a g e n c i e s m ee t the a bove di rec tive a nd to e n h a n c e lo c a l e f f

o r ts to p r ot e c t c ommuniti e s, the

P re sid e nt will e st a blish a sho r t

- t er m t a sk f o rc e o f st a t e , lo ca l, a nd t r ib a l o f f i c i a ls to a dvise on k e y

ac tions the f e d era l g o v e r n m e nt ca n t a ke to b e tt e r suppo r t lo ca l p re p are d n e s s a nd re sili e n c e

building eff o r ts. The t a sk f o rc e will p r ovide r e c omm e nd a tions on re m ovi n g b arr i er s to r e sili e nt

inv e st m e nts, m od er ni z ing g r a nt a nd lo a n p r o g ra ms to b e tt e r suppo r t lo ca l e ff o r ts, a nd d e v e loping

in f o r m a tion a nd tools to b e tt e r s er ve c ommuniti e s.

Su p p o rt i ng Co m m un i t i e s as t h e y P re p a r e f or Cli m a t e I m p a ct s: F e d e r a l a g e n c i e s will

c ontinue to p r ovide t a r g e t e d suppo r t a nd a ssist a n c e to h e lp c ommuniti e s p re p ar e f or c li m a t e

c h a n g e i m p a c ts. F or e x a mpl e , th r ou g hout 2013, the D e p a r t m e nt of T r a ns p o r t a tion ’ s Fe d eral

Hi g h w a y Ad m inist ra tion is wo r king with 19 st a t e a nd r e g ion a l p a r tn er s a nd oth e r fe d eral

a g e n c i e s to t e st a p p r o ac h e s f or a s s e ssing lo ca l t ra n spo r t a tion in fra st r u c tu r e vuln era bili t y to

c li m a te c h a n g e a nd e x t re m e w ea t h e r a nd f or i m p r oving re sili e n c e . The A d m inist ra tion will

c ontinue to a ssist t r ib a l c ommuniti e s on p re p a r e dn e ss th r ou g h the B u r ea u of I ndi a n A ffa i r s,

in c luding th r o u g h pilot p r oj ec ts a nd b y suppo r ti n g p ar ti c ip a tion in fe d e ra l i niti a tiv e s th a t a ss e ss

c li m a te c h a n ge vuln e r a biliti e s a nd d e v e lop r e g io n a l solutions. Th r ou g h a n n u a l fe d e ra l a g e n c y

“ Envi r on m e nt a l J usti c e P r og re ss R e po r ts,” the A d m inist ra tion will c ontin u e to id e nti f y

innov a tive w a y s to h e lp our m ost vuln era ble c ommuniti e s p re p ar e f or a nd rec ov e r fr om t h e

i m p ac ts of c li m a te c h a n g e . The i mpo r t a n c e of cr iti ca l in fra st r u c tu r e ind e p e n d e n c e w a s b r o u g ht

ho m e in the S a n d y re sp o ns e . The F e d e ra l E m e r g e n c y M a n a g e m e nt A g e n c y a nd t h e D e p ar t m e nt

of En e rg y a r e w o r ki n g w ith the p r iv a te s ec tor to a dd re ss si m u l t a n e ous re s t o ra tion of e l e c t r i c i t y

a nd f u e ls supp l y

.

B oos t i n g t h e R e sili e n ce of B u il d i n gs a n d I n f r as tr u ct u re : The N a tion a l I n stitute of S t a nd ar ds

a nd T ec hnol og y will c o n v e ne a p a n e l on dis a s t er

- r e sili e n c e st a nd ar ds to d e v e lop a

c o mp re h e nsi v e

, c ommu n i t y

- b a s e d r e sili e n c e f r a m e w o r k a nd p r ovi d e g uid e lin e s f or c onsist e nt l y

s af e buildin g s a nd in fra s t r u c tu r e

– p r odu c ts th a t c a n in f o r m the d e v e lop m e n t of p r iv a t e

- s e c tor

st a nd ar ds a nd c od e s. I n a ddition, buil d ing on fe d e r a l a g e n c i e s’ “ C li m a te C h a nge Ad a p t a tion

P l a ns,” the Ad m inist ra tion will c ontinue eff o r ts to in crea se the r e sili e n c e of fe d era l f a c iliti e s a nd

in fra st r u c tu r e . The D e p a r t m e nt of D e fe ns e

, f or e x a mpl e , is a ss e ssing the re l a tive vuln era bili t y o f

its c o a st a l fac iliti e s to c li m a te c h a n g e

. I n a ddition, the P re sid e nt ’ s F Y 2014 B u d g e t p r opo s e s

$200 m illion th r ou g h the T ra nspo r t a tion L e a d er sh i p Aw ar ds p r o g ra m f o r C li m a te R ea d y

I n f r a st r u c tu r e in c om m uniti e s th a t bu i ld e nh a n ce d p re p a r e dn e ss into th e ir p l a nning eff o r ts, a nd

th a t h a ve p r opos e d o r a r e rea d y to b r ea k g r ound o n in fra st r u c tu r e p r oj e c t s , in c luding t ra nsit a nd

ra il, to i mp r ove re sili e n c e.

R e bu il d i ng a nd L e a r n i ng f r om H u rr i c a ne S a nd y: I n A u g ust 2013, P r e sid e nt Ob a m a’ s

Hu rr i ca n e S a n d y R e building T a sk F o r c e will d e liv e r to the P re sid e nt a r e building st ra t e g y to be

i m pl e m e nt e d in S a n d y

- a f fec t e d r e g ions a nd e st a bl i shing p r e ce d e nts th a t ca n be f ollow ed14 e ls e wh e r e . The T a sk F or c e a nd f e d e ra l a g e n c i e s a r e a lso piloting n e w w a y s to suppo r t re sili e n c e

in the S a n d y

- a ff e c t e d r e gion; the T a sk F o rce

, f or e x a mpl e , is hosting a r e g i on a l “ R e building b y

D e si g n ” c omp e tition to g e n era te innov a tive solutions to e nh a n c e re sili e n c e

. I n the t ra nspo r t a tion

s ec to r , the D e p ar tm e nt of T ra nspo r t a tion ’ s Fe d era l T ra nsit Ad m inist ra tion (F TA) is d e d i ca ting

$5.7 billion to f our of the are a ’ s m ost i mp ac t e d t r a nsit a g e n c i e s, of wh i c h $ 1.3 billion will be

a llo ca t e d to lo ca l l y p r io r i ti z e d p r oj ec ts to m a ke t ra nsit s y st e m s m o r e re sili e nt to f utu r e dis a st er s.

F TA will a lso d e v e lop a c o mp e titive p r o ce ss f or a ddition a l f unding to id e nti f y a nd suppo r t

l ar g er , st a nd

- a lone re sili e n c e p r oj ec ts in the i m p a c t e d r e g ion. To build c o a st a l re sili e n ce , the

D e p ar t m e nt o f the I nt er i o r will l a un c h a $100 m illion c o m p e titive g r a nt p r o g r a m to f ost e r

p ar tn er ships a nd p r o m ote re sili e nt n a tu ra l s y s t e ms while e nh a n c ing g ree n s p ace s a nd wildli f e

h a bit a t n ea r u r b a n popul a tions. An a ddition a l $ 2 50 m illion w ill be a llo ca t e d to suppo r t p r oj ec ts

f

or c o a st a l re sto ra tion a n d re s i li e n c e acr oss the r e g ion. F i n a l l y , with p a r tn e r s, the U. S . A r m y

C o rps of En g i n eer s is c o ndu c ting a $20 m illion s tu d y to id e nti f y st r a t e g i e s to re du c e the

vuln era bili t y of S a n d y

- a f fec t e d c o a st a l c om m uniti e s to f utu r e l a r g e

- s ca le f l ood a nd sto r m e v e nts,

a nd the N a tion a l O cea n i c a nd At m osph er i c Ad m i n ist ra tion will st re n g th e n lon g

- t e r m c o a st al

obs er v a tions a nd p r ovide t ec hni ca l a ssist a n c e to c o a st a l c ommuniti e s.

II. Prot ec ti n g o u r E c o n o m y a n d Nat u ral R e so u r ce s

C li m a te c h a n g e is a f fec t i ng n e ar l y e v e r y a s p ec t of our so c i e t y

, fr om a g r i c u l tu r e a nd tou r ism to

the h ea lth a nd s a fe t y of o ur c iti z e ns a nd n a tu ra l r e sou rce s. To h e lp p r ot ec t cr i ti ca l s ec to r s, while

a lso t a r g e ting h a z ar ds th a t c ut acr oss s ec to r s a nd r e g ions, the Ad m inist ra tion will m ount a s e t of

s ec to r

- a nd h a z ar d

- sp e c i f ic eff o r ts to p r ot e c t our c ount r y ’ s vit a l a s s e ts, to in c lud e :

I d e n t i f y i n g V u l n er a b ili t i e s of K e y S ect o rs to Cli m a t e C h a n g e : The D e p a r t m e nt of En e rg y

will soon re l ea se a n a ss e s s m e nt of c li m a t e

- c h a n g e i mp ac ts on the e n e rg y s ec to r , in c luding

pow er

- pl a nt dis r uptions due to d r ou g ht a nd the d i s r uption of f u e l suppli e s du r ing s e v er e st o r m s,

a s w e ll a s pot e nti a l oppo r tuniti e s to m a ke our e n e rg y in f r a st r u c tu r e m o r e r e sili e nt to th e se r isks.

I n 2013, t h e D e p ar t m e nt of A g r i c ultu r e a nd D e p a r t m e nt of the I nt e r ior re l e a s e d s e v e ra l studi es

outlining the c h a ll e ng e s a c h a n g i n g c li m a te pos e s f or A m er i c a ’ s a g r i c ultu r a l e nt er p r is e

, f o r e sts,

w a t e r supp l y , wildli fe

, a n d public l a nds. This y e a r a nd n e x t, fe d era l a g e n c i e s will re po r t on the

i m p ac ts of c li m a te c h a n ge on oth e r k e y s ec to r s a n d st ra t e g i e s to a dd re ss t h e m , with p r io r i t y

eff o r ts f o c using on h ea l t h, t ra nspo r t a tion, f ood suppli e s, o cea ns, a nd c o a st a l c om m uniti e s.

P r o m o t i n g R e sili e n ce in t h e H e al t h S ect o r : The D e p ar t m e nt o f H e a lth a n d Hu m a n S er vi c es

will l a un c h a n eff o r t to c r ea te sust a in a ble a nd r e sili e nt hospit a ls in the fac e of c li m a te c h a n g e.

Th r ou g h a publi c

- p r i v a te p ar tn er ship with the h e a l th car e indust r y , it will id e nti f y b e st p rac ti c e s

a nd p r ovide g uid a n c e on aff o r d a ble m e a su re s to e nsu r e th a t our m e di ca l s y st e m is re sili e nt to

c li m a te i m p ac ts. I t will a l so c oll a bo ra te with p a r tn e r a g e n c i e s to sh a r e b e st p rac ti ce s a m o n g

fe d era l h ea lth fac iliti e s. And, building on l e ssons fr om pilot p r oj ec ts und e r w a y in 16 st a t e s, it

will h e lp t ra in publi c

- h ea lth p r o fe ssion a ls a nd c ommuni t y l e a d er s to p re p a r e th e ir c ommuniti e s

f

or the h e a lth c ons e qu e n ce s of c li m a te c h a n g e , i n c luding th r o u g h e ff e c tive c ommuni ca tion of

h ea lth r isks a nd re sili e n c e m ea su r e s.

P r o m o t i n g I n s u r a n ce L e a d er s h ip f or Cli m a t e S a f et y: R ec o g ni z ing the c r iti ca l r ole th a t the

p r iv a te s ec tor p l a y s in insu r ing a s s e ts a nd e n a bli n g ra pid r e c ov e r y af t e r di s a st er s, the

Ad m inist ra tion will c onv e ne re p r e s e nt a tiv e s fr om the insu ra n c e indust r y a n d oth e r st a k e hold er s

to e x plo r e b e st p rac ti ce s f or p r iv a te a nd public in s u rer s to m a n a ge th e ir o w n p r o ce ss e s a nd15 inv e st m e nts to acc ount f or c li m a te c h a n ge r isks a nd in ce ntiv i z e poli c y hold er s to t a ke st e ps to

re du c e t h e ir e x posu r e to th e se r isks.

Co n s er vi n g L a n d a n d Wa te r R e so u rce s: A m e r i ca’ s e c o s y st e m s a r e cr it i ca l to our n a tion ’s

ec ono m y a nd the liv e s a n d h ea lth of our c iti z e ns. Th e se n a tu r a l re sou r ce s c a n a lso h e lp

a m e lio ra te the i mp a c ts of c li m a te c h a n g e , if th e y a r e p r op e r l y p r ot ec t e d. T h e Ad m inist ra tion h a s

inv e st e d si g ni f i c a nt l y in c ons er vi n g re l e v a nt ec o s y s t e m s, in c l udi n g wo r ki n g with Gulf S t a te

p ar tn er s af t e r the D ee p w a t e r Ho r i z on spill to e nh a n c e b a r r i e r isl a nds a nd m ar sh e s th a t p r ot ec t

c ommuniti e s fr om s e v er e sto r m s. The Ad m inist r a tion is a lso i mpl e m e nting c li m a t e

- a d a pt a tion

st ra t e g i e s th a t p r o m ote r e sili e n c e in f ish a nd wildli f e popul a tions, f o re sts a n d oth e r pl a nt

c ommuniti e s, fre shw a t e r re sou rce s, a nd the o c e a n. B uilding on th e se e f f

o r t s , the P re sid e nt is a lso

di rec ting fe d e ra l a g e n c i e s to id e nti f y a nd e v a lu a te a ddition a l a pp r o ac h e s to i mp r ove our n a tu r a l

d efe ns e s a g a inst e x t re m e w ea th er , p r ot e c t biodiv er si t y a nd c ons er v e n a tu r a l re sou rce s in the f a c e

of a c h a n g i n g c li m a t e

, a n d m a n a g e our public l a n d s a nd n a tu ra l s y st e m s to s to r e m o r e ca r bon.

M ai n t ai n i n g Ag r i c u l t u r al Su s t a i n a b i li t y : B uild i ng on the e x isting n e two r k of fe d e r a l c li m a t e

s c i e n c e re s e arc h a nd a c tion ce nt er s, the D e p a r t m e nt of Ag r i c ultu r e is c r ea t i ng s e v e n n ew

R e g ion a l C li m a te Hubs t o d e liv e r t a ilo re d, s c i e n c e

- b a s e d kn o wl e d g e to f a r m er s, ra n c h er s, a nd

f

o re st l a ndown er s. T h e se hubs will wo r k with univ er siti e s a nd oth e r p ar t n e r s, in c luding the

D e p ar t m e nt o f the I nt er i o r a nd the N a tion a l O cea n ic a nd Atmosph er ic Administ ra tion, to suppo r t

c li m a te re sili e n c e

. I ts N a t u r a l R e sou r c e s C ons er v a t ion S er vi c e a nd the D e p a r t m e nt of the

I nt e r io r’ s B u r ea u of Re c l a m a tion ar e a lso p r ovidi n g g r a nts a nd t ec hn i ca l s u ppo r t to a g r i c ultu ra l

w a t e r us e r s f or m o r e w a t er

- e ff i c i e nt p r a c ti ce s in t he fa c e of d r o u g ht a nd lon g

- t e r m c li m a te

c h a n g e.

M a n agi n g D r o u g h t : L e v er a g i n g the w o r k of the N a tion a l Dis a st e r R ec ov e r y F r a m e wo r k f or

d r ou g ht, the Ad m inist ra t i on will l a un c h a cr oss

- a g e n c y N a tion a l D r o u g ht R e sili e n c e P ar tn er ship

a s a “ f r ont doo r ” f or c ommuniti e s s ee king h e lp to p re p a r e f or f utu r e d r o u g h ts a nd re du c e d r o u g ht

i m p ac ts. B y linking in f or m a tion ( m onito r in g

, f o r e ca sts, outlooks, a nd ear l y w ar ni n g s) with

d r ou g ht p r e p a re dn e ss a n d lon g e r

- t er m re sili e n c e s t ra t e g i e s in cr iti ca l s e c to r s, this eff o r t will h e lp

c ommuniti e s m a n a ge d r o u g ht

- r e l a t e d r isks.

R e du c i n g Wil d f i r e Ris k s : W ith t r ib e s, st a t e s, a nd lo ca l g o v er n m e nts a s p a r tn er s, the

Ad m inist ra tion h a s wo r k e d to m a ke l a nds c a p e s mo r e re sist a nt to wild f i re s, whi c h ar e

e x acer b a t e d b y h e a t a nd d r ou g ht c onditions re sul t ing fr om c li m a te c h a n g e

. Fe d e ra l a g e n c i e s will

e x p a nd a nd p r io r iti z e f o re st a nd ra n g e l a nd re sto r a tion eff o r ts in o r d e r to m a ke n a tu r a l a r ea s a nd

c ommuniti e s l e ss vuln era ble to ca t a st r ophic f i re

. T he D e p a r t m e nt of the I n t er ior a nd D e p ar tm e nt

of A g r i c ultu re

, f or e x a mpl e

, ar e l a un c hi n g a We st er n Wa t er sh e d Enh a n ce m e nt P ar tn er ship

– a

pilot eff o r t in f ive w e st e r n st a t e s to re du c e wild f i r e r isk b y re movi n g e x t r a b r ush a nd oth e r

f l a mm a ble v e g e t a tion ar o und cr iti ca l a r ea s su c h a s w a t e r r e s er voi r s.

P r e p a r i n g f or F u t u re F l oo d s: To e nsu r e th a t p r o j ec ts f und e d with t a x p a y e r doll ar s l a st a s long

a s int e nd e d, fe d era l a g e n c i e s w i ll upd a te th e ir f lo o d

- r isk re du c tion st a nd ar d s f or fe d era l l y f un d ed

p r oj ec ts to ref l ec t a c o nsist e nt a pp r o ac h th a t a cc o u nts f or s ea

- l e v e l r ise a nd oth e r f a c to r s

aff e c ting f lood r isks. This eff o r t will in c o r po r a te the m ost re c e nt s c i e n c e on e x p ec t e d ra t e s of

s ea

- l e v e l r ise ( whi c h v a r y b y r e g ion) a nd build on wo r k done b y the H u rr i c a ne S a n d y R e building

T a sk F o r ce , wh i c h a nno u n ce d in Ap r il 2013 th a t a ll fe d era l l y f un d e d S a n d y

- re l a t e d re building

p r oj ec ts m ust m ee t a c o n sist e nt f lood r isk re du c tion st a nd ar d th a t t a k e s into acc ount in c r ea s ed

r isk fr om e x t re m e w e a th e r e v e nts, s ea

- l e v e l r is e

, a nd oth e r imp ac ts of c li m a te c h a n g e.16 III. Usi n g S o u n d S c i e n c e to Ma n age C l i m ate I m

pa c t s

S c i e nti f ic d a ta a nd insi g hts ar e e ss e nti a l to h e lp g o v er n m e nt o ff i c i a ls, c o m muniti e s, a nd

busin e ss e s b e tt e r und e r st a nd a nd m a n a g e the r isks a sso c i a t e d with c li m a te c h a n g e . T h e

Ad m inist ra tion will c ont i nue to l ea d in a dv a n c i n g the s c i e n c e of c li m a te m e a su re m e nt a nd

a d a pt a tion a nd the d e v e l op m e nt of tools f or c li m a t e

- r e l e v a nt d e c ision

- m a k i ng b y f o c using on

in crea si n g the a v a il a bilit y

, a c c e ssib i li t y

, a nd utility of re l e v a nt s c i e nti f ic tools a nd in f o r m a tion.

S p ec i f ic ac tions will in c lud e :

D e v e lo p i n g A ct io n a b le Cli m a t e S c i e n c e : The P r e sid e nt ’ s F is ca l Y e a r 20 1 4 B u d g e t p r ovid e s

mo r e th a n $2.7 billion, l ar g e l y th r o u g h the 1 3

- a g e n c y U. S . Glob a l C h a n g e R e s earc h P r o g ra m , to

in crea s e und er st a ndi n g of c li m a t e

- c h a n ge i m p ac t s

, e st a blish a publi c

- p r iv a te p ar tn e r ship to

e x plo r e r isk a nd ca t a st r ophe m od e li n g

, a nd d e v e l op the in f o r m a tion a nd t o ols n ee d e d b y

d ec ision

- m a k e r s to re sp o nd to both lon g

- t er m c l i m a te c h a n ge i mp ac ts a nd n ear

- t er m e ff e c ts of

e x t re m e w ea th e r

.

Ass e ssi n g Cli m a te

- C h a n ge I m p a ct s in t he U n i t e d S t a te s : I n t h e sp r i n g o f 2014, the O b a m a

Ad m inist ra tion will re l ea se the thi r d U. S . N a tion a l C li m a te Ass e ss m e nt, highli g hting n e w

a dv a n c e s in our und er st a nding of c li m a t e

- c h a n g e i mp ac ts acr oss a ll r e g io n s of the Unit e d S t a t es

a nd on cr iti ca l s e c to r s of the ec ono m y , in c ludi n g t ra nspo r t a tion, e n e rg y

, a g r i c ultu re

, a nd

ec o s y st e m s a nd biodiv er si t y

. F o r the f i r st ti m e , the N a tion a l C li m a te Ass e ss m e nt will f o c us not

on l y on diss e m in a tion of s c i e nti f ic in f o r m a tion but a lso on t ra nsl a ting s c i e nti f ic insi g hts into

p rac ti ca l, u s ea ble know l e d g e t h a t ca n h e lp d ec isi o n

- m a k er s a nti c ip a te a n d p re p a r e f or s p ec i f ic

c li m a t e

- c h a n g e i mp ac ts.

L a un c h i n g a Cli m a t e Da t a I n i t ia t iv e : C onsist e nt with the P re sid e nt ’ s M a y 2013 E x ec utive

O r d e r on O p e n D a t a

– a nd rec o g ni z ing th a t f ree l y a v a il a ble op e n g o v er n m e nt d a ta ca n f u el

e nt re p r e n e u r ship, innov a t ion, s c i e nti f ic dis c ov e r y

, a nd public b e n ef its

– the Ad m inist ra tion is

l a un c hing a C li m a te D a ta I niti a tive to l e v er a ge e x t e nsive fe d era l c li m a t e

- re l e v a nt d a ta to

sti m ul a te innov a tion a nd p r iv a t e

- s ec tor e nt re p re n e u r ship in suppo r t of n a ti o n a l c li m a t e

- c h a n g e

p re p a r e dn e ss

.

P r ovi d i n g a T ool k it f or Cli m a t e R e sili e n c e : F e d era l a g e n c i e s will c r ea te a vi r tu a l c li m a t e

re sili e n c e toolkit th a t ce nt ra li z e s acce ss to d a t a

- d r i v e n re sili e n c e tools, s er vi ce s, a nd b e st

p rac ti ce s, in c ludi n g those d e v e lop e d th r o u g h the C li m a te D a ta I niti a tiv e . T h e toolkit will p r ovide

ea s y a c ce ss to e x isting r e sou rce s a s w e ll a s n e w tools, in c ludin g : int erac tive s ea

- l e v e l r ise m a ps

a nd a s e a

- l e v e l

- r ise c a l c u l a tor to a id post

- S a n d y r e building in N e w Y o r k a n d N e w J er s e y , n e w

NOAA sto r m su r g e mo d e ls a nd int er a c tive m a ps f r om the N a tion a l O c ea n i c a nd At m osph e r ic

Ad m inist ra tion th a t p r ovide r isk in f o r m a tion b y c o m bining tid a l d a t a

, p r oj e c t e d s e a l e v e ls a nd

sto r m w a ve h e i g hts, a w e b

- b a s e d tool th a t will a ll o w d e v e lop er s to int e g r a te NA S A c li m a te

i m a g e r y into w e bsit e s a nd m obile a pps, acce ss to the U. S . G e ol o g i ca l S u r v e y ’ s “ visu a li z a tion

tool” to a ss e ss the a m ou n t of car bon a bso r b e d b y l a nds ca p e s, a nd a S to r m w a t e r C a l c ul a tor a nd

C li m a te Ass e ss m e nt Tool d e v e lop e d to h e lp lo ca l g ov e r n m e nts a ss e ss sto r mw a t er

- c ont r ol

m ea su re s un d e r di f f

ere nt p rec ipit a ti o n a nd t e m p e r a tu r e s ce n ar ios.17 L E A D I N TE R NA T I ONAL E F F O R TS TO A DD R E S S G L O B AL C L I M A TE C HANGE

The O b a m a Ad m inist ra t i on is wo r king to build on the ac tions th a t it is t a k i ng do m e sti ca l l y to

ac hi e ve s i g ni f i c a nt g lob a l g r e e nhouse g a s e m ission re du c tions a nd e n h a n c e c li m a te p re p are d n e ss

th r ou g h m a j o r int er n a ti o n a l initi a tiv e s f o c us e d on spu rr ing c o n cre t e ac tion, in c luding bil a t e r a l

initi a tiv e s w ith C hin a

, I n di a

, a nd oth e r m a j o r e m i tting c ount r i e s. T h e se i n iti a tiv e s not on l y s er v e

to suppo r t the eff o r ts of t he Unit e d S t a t e s a nd oth e r s to ac hi e ve o u r g o a ls f o r 2020, but a lso will

h e lp us m ove b e y ond th o se a nd b e nd the post

- 20 2 0 g lob a l e m issions t ra j ec t o r y f u r th er

. As a k e y

p ar t of this eff o r

t, we a r e a lso wo r king int e n s i v e l y to f o r ge g lob a l re spon s e s to c li m a te c h a n g e

th r ou g h a numb e r of i m p o r t a n t int er n a tion a l n e g o t i a tions, in c luding the U n i t e d N a tions

Fra m e wo r k C onv e ntion on C li m a te C h a n g e.

I. Worki n g w i t h Ot h e r C o un tri e s to Take A c ti o n to A ddr e ss C l i m a te Ch a n g e

Enh a n c i ng M u l t ila ter al En gag eme n t wi t h M a j or E c o n o m i e s: I n 2009, P re sid e nt Ob a m a

l a un c h e d the M a j o r E c o n o m i e s F o r um on En e rg y a nd C li m a t e , a h i g h

- l e v e l f o r um th a t b r i n g s

to g e th e r 17 c ount r i e s th a t acc ount f or a pp r o x i m a t e l y 75 p er c e nt of g lob a l g r ee nhouse g as

e m issions, in o r d e r to suppo r t the int er n a tion a l c l i m a te n e g oti a tions a nd s p ur c oop e r a tive a c tion

to c o m b a t c li m a te c h a n g e . The F o r um h a s b ee n s u cce ss f ul on both f r onts

– h a ving c ont r ibut e d

si g ni f i ca nt l y to p r o g r e ss in the b r o a d e r n e g o t i a tio n s while a lso l a un c hi n g the C l ea n En e rg y

Minist er i a l to ca t a l y z e t h e d e v e l op m e nt a nd d e pl o y m e nt of c l ea n e n e rg y a n d eff i c i e n c y solutions.

W e ar e p r oposi n g th a t t h e F o r um bu i ld on th e se e ff o r ts b y l a un c hi n g a m a j or initi a tive this y ea r

f

o c us e d on f u r th e r ac c e l e ra ting eff i c i e n c y g a ins in the buildin g s s ec to r , whi c h a c c ounts f or

a pp r o x i m a t e l y on e

- thi r d of g lob a l car bon pollutions fr om the e n e rg y s ec t or

.

E x p a n d i ng B ila ter al Coo p er a t ion wi t h M a j or E mer gi n g E c o n o m i e s:

Fr om the outs e t, the O b a m a Ad m inist ra tion h a s s ou g ht to int e nsi f y bil a t e r a l c li m a te c oop e ra tion

with k e y m a jor e m e r g i n g ec ono m i e s, th r o u g h initi a tiv e s like the U. S

. - C hi n a C l ea n En e rg y

R e s earc h C e nt er , the U. S

. - I ndia P ar tn er ship to A d v a n c e C l ea n E n e rg y

, a nd the S t ra t e g i c En e rg y

Di a lo g u e with B r a z il.

W e will be building on th e se su c c e ss e s a nd f inding n e w a r ea s f o r c oop e ra t i on in the s ec ond t er m

,

a nd we a r e a l rea d y m a king p r o g re ss: J ust this mo nth, P re sid e nt Ob a m a a n d P re sid e nt Xi J inping

of C hina re a c h e d a n histo r ic a g r e e m e nt a t th e i r f i r s t sum m it to wo r k to use t he e x p er tise a nd

institutions of the Mont r e a l P r oto c ol to ph a se do w n the c onsu m ption a nd p r odu c tion of H F C s, a

hi g h l y pot e nt g r e e nhouse g a s. T h e imp ac t of p h a sing out H F C s b y 2050 w o uld be e quiv a l e nt to

the e li m in a tion of two ye ar s’ wo r th o f g r ee nhou s e g a s e m issions fr om a ll sou rce s.

C o m b a tt i n g Sh o rt

- L iv e d Cli m a t e P oll u t a n t s : P ollut a nts su c h a s m e th a n e , bl ac k c ar bon, a nd

m a n y H F C s a r e re l a tiv e ly sho r t

- liv e d in the a t m osph ere , but h a v e m o r e po t e nt g r ee nhou s e e f fec ts

th a n car bon dio x id e

. I n F e b r u a r y 2012, the Unit e d S t a t e s l a un c h e d the C li m a te a nd C l ea n A i r

C o a lition to R e du c e S ho r t

- L iv e d C li m a te P ollution, whi c h h a s g r own to i n c lude m o r e th a n 30

c ount r y p ar tn e r s a nd oth e r k e y p ar t n er s su c h a s the W o r ld B a nk a nd the U

. N. Envi r on m e nt

P r o g r a m m e . M a jor eff o r t s in c lude re du c i n g m e t h a ne a nd bl ac k car bon fr om w a ste a nd l a n d f ills.

W e ar e a lso l e a ding th r o u g h the Glo b a l M e th a ne I niti a tiv e

, w h i c h wo r ks w ith 42 p ar tn e r

c ount r i e s a nd a n e x t e nsive n e two r k of o v e r 1,100 p r iv a te s ec tor p ar ti c ip a n t s to re du c e m e th a ne

e m issions.18 R e du c i n g E m issio n s f r o m D e f o re s t a t ion a n d F o re st D e g r a d a t io n : G ree n house g a s e m issions

fr om d ef o re st a tion, a g r i c ultu re

, a nd oth e r l a nd use c onstitute a pp r o x i m a t e l y on e

- thi r d of g lob a l

e m issions. I n so m e d e v e l oping c ount r i e s, a s m u c h a s 80 p er c e nt of th e se e m issions c o m e fr om

the l a nd s ec to r . To m ee t t his c h a ll e n g e , the O b a ma Ad m inist ra tion is wo r king with p a r tn e r

c ount r i e s to put in pl ac e t he s y st e m s a nd instituti o ns n ece ss a r y to s i g ni f i c a nt l y re d u c e g lob a l

l a nd

- us e

- r e l a t e d e m issions, crea ti n g n e w m o d e ls f or r u r a l d e v e lop m e nt th a t g e n e r a te c li m a te

b e n ef its, while c ons e r vi n g biodiv er si t y , p r o t ec ti n g w a t er sh e ds, a nd i mp r ov i ng liv e lihoods.

I n 2012 a lon e , the U. S

. A g e n c y f or I nt er n a tion a l D e v e lop m e nt ’ s bil a t e r a l a n d r e g ion a l f o r e st r y

p r og ra m s c ont r ibut e d to r e du c i n g m o r e th a n 140 million tons of car bon dioxide e m issions,

in c luding th r ou g h suppo r t f or m ultil a t era l initi a ti v e s su c h a s the F o r e st I n v e st m e nt P r o g r a m a nd

the F o re st Ca r bon P ar tn e r ship Fac ili t y

. I n I ndon e s i a , the Mill e nnium C h a ll e nge C o r po ra tion is

f unding a f iv e

- y e a r “ G r e e n P r osp er i t y ” p r o g ra m t h a t suppo r ts e nv i r on m e n t a l l y sust a in a bl e , low

car bon e c ono m ic d e v e l o p m e nt in s e l ec t dist r i c ts.

The O b a m a Ad m inist ra t i on is a lso w o r king to a d d re ss a g r i c ultu r e

- d r iv e n d e f o re st a tion th r o u g h

initi a tiv e s su c h a s the T r opi ca l F o r e st Alli a n c e 2 0 20, whi c h b r in g s t o g e th e r g ov e r n m e nts, the

p r iv a te s ec to r

, a nd c ivil s o c i e t y to r e du c e t r opi ca l d ef o re st a tion re l a t e d to k e y a g r i c ultu r a l

c ommoditi e s, whi c h we will build upon.

E x p a n d i n g Cl e an E n er gy Use a n d C u t En er gy Was te : R o u g h l y 84 p e r c e nt of c u r r e nt c a r bon

dio x ide e m issions ar e e n e rg y

- r e l a t e d a nd a bout 6 5 p erce nt o f a ll g r e e nho u se g a s e m issions ca n

be a tt r ibut e d to e n e rg y supp l y a nd e n e rg y u s e . The Ob a m a Ad m inist ra tion h a s p r o m ot e d the

e x p a nsion of re n e w a bl e

, c l ea n, a nd eff i c i e nt e n e r gy sou r ce s a nd t ec hnol o g i e s wo r ld w ide

th r ou g h:

• F in a n c i n g a nd r e g ul a to r y suppo r t f or re n e w a ble a n d c l ea n e n e rg y p r o j ec ts

• A c tions to p r o m ote f u e l s wit c hing f r om oil a nd c o a l to n a tu ra l g a s or re n e w a bl es

• S uppo r t f or the s a f e a nd s ec u r e u s e of nu c l ea r p o w e r

• C oop era tion on c l ea n c o a l t ec hnolo g i e s

• P r o g r a m s to i m p r ove a nd diss e m in a te e n e rg y e ff i c i e nt t ec hnolo g i es

I n the p a st th re e y ea r s we h a ve r e ac h e d a g r e e m e n t s with m o r e th a n 20 c ou n t r i e s ar ound the

wo r ld, in c luding M e x i c o, S outh A fr i ca

, a nd I ndon e si a , to suppo r t low e m ission d e v e lop m e nt

st ra t e g i e s th a t h e lp c ount r i e s to id e nti f y the b e st w a y s to re d u c e g r ee nhouse g a s e m issions while

g r o wing t h e ir ec ono m i e s. A m ong the m a n y initi a tiv e s th a t we h a v e l a un c h e d are:

• The U. S . A fr i c a C l ea n E n e rg y F i n a n c e I niti a tiv e

, whi c h a li g ns g ra nt

- b a s e d a ssist a n ce

with p r oj ec t pl a nning e x p er tise fr om the U. S . T r a de a nd D e v e lop m e nt A g e n c y a nd

f in a n c i n g a nd r isk m iti g a tion tools fr om the U. S

. Ov er s e a s P r iv a te I nv e st m e nt

C o rpo ra tion to unlo c k up to $1 billion in c l ea n e n er g y f in a n c i n g

.

• The U. S

. - Asia P ac i f i c C o m p re h e nsive E n e rg y P ar t n er ship, whi c h h a s id e nti f i e d $6 billion

in U. S

. e x po r t cre dit a nd g ov e r n m e nt f in a n c i n g to p r o m ote c l ea n e n e rg y d e v e lop m e nt in

the Asi a

- P ac i f ic r e gion.

L ooki n g a h ea d, w e will t a r g e t th e se a nd oth e r r e sou rce s tow a r ds g r e a t e r p e n e t ra tion of

re n e w a bl e s in the g lob a l e n e rg y m ix on both a s m a ll a nd l a r g e s ca l e , in c lu d ing th r o u g h our19 p ar ti c ip a tion in the S ust a in a ble En e rg y f or All I niti a tive a nd a c ce l e ra ti n g the c om m e r c i a li z a tion

of re n e w a ble m ini

- g r ids. Th e se e f f

o r ts in c lud e :

• Na t u r al G as. B u r ning n a tu ra l g a s is a bout on e

- h a lf a s c ar bon

- int e nsive a s c o a l, whi c h

ca n m a k e it a cr iti ca l “ b r i d g e f u e l” f or m a n y c oun t r i e s a s the wo r ld t r a nsitions to e v en

c l ea n e r sou r c e s of e n e rg y . Tow ar d th a t e nd, t h e O b a m a Administ ra tion is p ar tn er i n g with

st a t e s a nd p r iv a te c o m p a ni e s to e x c h a n g e l e ssons l ear n e d with our int e r n a t i on a l p ar tn er s

on re sponsible d e v e lop m e nt of n a tu ra l g a s r e sou r c e s. W e h a ve l a u n c h e d the

Un c onv e ntion a l G a s T e c hni ca l Eng a g e m e nt P r o g r a m to sh ar e b e st p rac ti ce s on issu es

su c h a s w a t e r m a n a g e m e nt, m e th a ne e m issions, a i r qu a li t y , p er m ittin g

, c on t rac ti n g

, a nd

p r i c ing to h e lp in c r e a se glob a l g a s suppli e s a nd f a c ilit a te d e v e lop m e nt of t he a sso c i a t ed

in fra st r u c tu r e th a t b r in g s th e m to m ar k e t. Goi n g f o r w ar d, w e will p r o m ote f u e l

- swit c hing

fr om c o a l to g a s f or e l e c t r i c i t y p r od u c t i on a nd e n c ou r a g e the d e v e lop m e nt of a g lob a l

m ar k e t f or g a s. S in c e h ea v y

- du t y v e hi c l e s a r e e x p ec t e d to acc ount f or 40 p erce nt o f

in crea s e d oil use th r o u g h 2030, we will e n c ou r a g e the a doption of h ea v y d u t y n a tu ra l g as

v e hi c l e s a s w e ll.

• N u c l e ar P ow er

. The Un i t e d S t a t e s will c ontinue t o p r o m ote the s af e a nd s e c u r e use of

nu c l ea r po w e r w o r ldwide th r ou g h a v ar i e t y of bil a t era l a nd multil a t era l e ng a g e m e nts. F or

e x a mpl e , the U. S . Nu c l e a r R e g u l a to r y C om m ission a dvis e s int er n a tion a l p a r tn er s on

s afe t y a nd r e g ul a to r y b e st p rac ti ce s, a nd the D e p a r t m e nt of En e rg y w o r ks w ith

int er n a tion a l p ar tn e r s on re s e a rc h a nd d e v e lopm e n t, nu c l ea r w a ste a nd sto r a g e , t r a inin g

,

r e g ul a tions, qu a li t y c ont r ol, a nd c omp re h e nsive f u e l l ea sing options. Goi n g f o r w a r d, we

will e x p a nd th e se eff o r

ts to p r o m ote nu c l ea r e n e r gy g e n era tion c onsist e nt with

m a x i m i z ing s afe t y a nd n onp r oli fera tion g o a ls.

• Cl e an Coal. The Unit e d S t a t e s wo r ks with C hin a

, I nd i a

, a nd oth e r c ount r i e s th a t

c u rre nt l y re l y h e a vi l y on c o a l f or pow e r g e n e ra ti o n to a dv a n c e t h e d e v e lo p m e nt a nd

d e pl o y m e nt of c l e a n c o a l t ec hnolo g i e s. I n a ddition, the U. S . l ea ds the C ar b o n

S e qu e st ra tion L ea d er ship F o r u m , whi c h e n g a g e s 2 3 oth e r c ount r i e s a nd ec o no m i e s on

car bon c a ptu r e a nd s e qu e st ra tion t ec hnolo g i e s. G o ing f o r w ar d, we will c on t inue to use

th e se bil a t era l a nd m ultil a t era l e ff o r ts to p r o m ote c l ea n c o a l t e c hnolo g i e s.

• En er gy E f f

i c i e n c y. The Ob a m a Ad m inist ra tion h a s a g g re ssiv e l y p r o m ot e d e n e rg y

eff i c i e n c y th r o u g h the C l ea n En e rg y Minist e r i a l a nd k e y bil a t era l p r o g r a ms. The c ost

eff e c tive oppo r tuniti e s a r e e no r m ous: The M i nist e r i a l’ s S up er

- E ff i c i e nt E q uip m e nt a nd

Appli a n c e D e pl o y m e nt I niti a tive a nd its Glob a l S up er ior En e rg y P erf o r m a n ce

P ar tn er ship a r e h e lpi n g to ac c e l era t e the g lob a l a d option of st a nd ar ds a nd p rac ti ce s th a t

would c ut e n e rg y w a ste e quiv a l e nt to m o r e th a n 6 50 m id

- si z e pow e r pl a nts b y 2030. W e

will wo r k to e x p a nd th e s e eff o r ts f o c usi n g on s e v era l cr iti ca l ar e a s, in c ludin g : i mp r oving

building eff i c i e n c y

, re d u c ing e n e rg y c onsu m ption a t w a t e r a nd w a st e w a t e r t rea t m e nt

fac iliti e s, a nd e x p a nding g lo b a l a ppli a n c e st a nd ar d s.

N e go t ia t i n g G lo b al F r e e T r a d e in En vi r o n m e n t al G oo d s a n d S er vi ce s: The U. S . will wo r k

with t ra ding p a r tn er s to l a un c h n e g oti a tions a t the W o r ld T ra de Or g a ni z a tion tow ar ds g lob a l f r e e

t ra de in e nvi r on m e nt a l goods, in c luding c l e a n e n e r g y t e c hnol o g i e s su c h a s sol ar , wind, h y d r o a nd

g e ot h er m a l. The U. S . will build on the c ons e nsus i t rece nt l y f o r g e d a m o n g t he 21 Asi a

- P ac i f ic

E c ono m ic C oop era tion ( A P E C ) ec ono m i e s in this ar e a

. I n 2011, A P EC e c o no m i e s a g r ee d to

re du c e t ar i ff s to 5 p e r c e n t or l e ss b y 2015 on a n e g oti a t e d list of 54 e nvi r o n m e nt a l g oods. T h e20 A P EC list wi l l s er ve a s a f ound a tion f or a g lob a l a g r ee m e nt in the W TO, with p ar ti c ip a ting

c ount r i e s e x p a nding the s c ope b y a ddi n g p r odu c ts of int ere st. Ov e r the n e x t y ea r

, w e will wo r k

tow ar ds s ec u r ing p ar ti c i p a tion of c ount r i e s whi c h acc ount f o r 90 p e r ce nt of g lob a l t ra d e in

e nvi r on m e nt a l g oods, re p re s e nti n g r o u g h l y $481 b il l ion in a nnu a l e nvi r on m e nt a l g oods t r a d e

. W e will a lso wo r k in the T ra de in S er vi ce s A g re e m e nt n e g oti a tions tow ar ds ac hi e vi n g fre e t r a de

in e nvi r onm e nt a l s er vi ce s.

P h asi ng O ut Sub s i d i e s t h at En c o u r age Was te f ul Co n s u m p t ion of F ossil F u e ls: The

I nt e r n a tion a l En e rg y A g e n c y e sti m a t e s th a t the ph a s e

- out of f ossil f u e l subsidi e s

– whi c h a m ount

to m o r e th a n $500 billion a nnu a l l y

– would l ea d to a 10 p er c e nt re d u c tion in g r ee nhouse g a s

e m issions b e low busin e ss a s usu a l b y 2050. At t h e 2009 G

- 20 m e e ting in P itts b u r g h, the Unit e d

S t a t e s su cce ss f ul l y a dvo c a t e d f or a c om m i t m e nt to ph a se out th e se subsidi e s, a nd we h a v e sin ce

won si m il a r c om m i t m e n t s in oth e r f o r a s u c h a s A P E C

. P re sid e nt Ob a m a is ca lling f o r the

e li m in a tion of U. S

. f ossil f u e l t a x subsidi e s in his F is ca l Y e a r ( F Y ) 2014 b ud g e t, a nd we will

c ontinue to c oll a bo ra te with p ar tn er s ar ound the w o r ld tow ar d this g o a l.

L e a d i ng G lo b al S ect or P ub lic Fi n a n c i ng T owa r d s Cl e a n er En er gy: U n d e r this

Ad m inist ra tion, the Unit e d S t a t e s h a s su c c e ss f ully m obili z e d billions of d oll ar s f or c l e a n e n e rg y

inv e st m e nts in d e v e loping c ount r i e s, h e lping to ac ce l e r a te th e ir t r a nsition t o a g ree n, lo w

- c ar bon

ec ono m y

. B uildi n g on t h e se su c c e ss e s, the P re si d e nt ca lls f or a n e nd to U

. S

. g ov er nm e nt suppo r t

f

or public f in a n c i n g o f n e w c o a l pl a nts ov er s ea s, e x ce pt f or (a ) the m ost e f f

i c i e nt c o a l t ec hnol og y

a v a il a ble in the wo r l d ’ s poo re st c ount r i e s in ca s e s wh er e no oth e r e c ono m i c a l l y f ea sible

a lt er n a tive e x ists, or ( b) f ac iliti e s d e pl o y i n g c ar b o n ca ptu r e a nd s e qu e st ra t i on t ec hnolo g i e s. As

p ar t of this n e w c om m it m e nt, we will wo r k a c ti v e l y to s ec u r e the a g r e e m e nt of oth e r c ount r i e s

a nd the m ultil a t era l d e v e lop m e nt b a nks to a dopt si m il a r poli c i e s a s soon a s possibl e

.

S tre n g t h e n i n g G lo b al R e sili e n ce t o Cli m a t e C h a n g e : Fa iling to p r e p a r e a d e qu a t e l y f o r the

i m p ac ts of c li m a te c h a nge th a t ca n no lo n g e r be a void e d will put m illions of p e ople a t r isk,

j e op ar di z ing i mpo r t a nt d e v e lop m e nt g a ins, a nd i n crea si n g the s e c u r i t y r isks th a t st e m fr om

c li m a te c h a n g e . T h a t is w h y the O b a m a Administ ra tion h a s m a de histo r ic i nv e st m e nts in

bolst er ing the c a p ac i t y of c ount r i e s to re spond to c li m a t e

- c h a n ge r isks. G o i ng f o r w a r d, we will

c ontinue to:

• S t re n g th e n g o v er n m e nt a nd lo ca l c ommuni t y pl a n ning a nd re sponse ca p a c iti e s, su c h a s

b y in c r ea si n g w a t e r sto ra g e a nd w a t e r use eff i c i e n c y to c ope with the in c r e a s ed

v ar i a bili t y in w a t e r supp ly

• D e v e lop innov a tive f in a n c i a l r isk m a n a g e m e nt tools su c h a s ind e x insu ra n c e to h e lp

s m a llhold e r fa r m er s a nd p a sto ra lists m a n a ge r isk a sso c i a t e d w ith c h a ngi n g ra in fa ll

p a tt er ns a nd d r o u g ht

• Dist r ibute d r ou g ht

- re sist a nt s ee ds a nd p r o m ote m a n a g e m e nt p rac ti ce s th a t in crea s e

far m er s ' a bili t y to c ope w ith c li m a te i mp ac ts.

M o b ili z i n g Cli m a t e F i n a n ce : I nt er n a tion a l c lim a te f in a n c e is a n i mpo r t a nt tool in our eff o r ts to

p r o m ote low

- e m issions, c li m a t e

- re sili e nt d e v e l o p m e nt. W e h a ve f ul f ill e d our joint d e v e lop e d

c ount r y c o mm i t m e nt fr o m the C op e nh a g e n A c c o r d to p r ovide a pp r o x i m a t e l y $30 billion of

c li m a te a ssist a n c e to d e v e loping c ount r i e s ov e r F Y 2010

- F Y 2012. T h e U nit e d S t a t e s c ont r ibut e d

a pp r o x i m a t e l y $7.5 billion to this eff o r t ov e r the t h re e y e a r p er iod. Goi n g f o r w ar d, w e will s eek21 to build on this p r o g re ss a s w e ll a s f o c us our e f f

o r ts on c o m bining our pub l ic re sou r c e s with

s m ar t poli c i e s to m obili z e m u c h l a r g e r f lows of p r iv a te inv e st m e nt in low

- e m issions a nd c li m a te

re sili e nt in fra st r u c tu re.

II. L e adi n g E ff

orts to A d dr e ss C l i m ate C h a n ge t h r o u gh I n t e r n atio n a l N e

go t iatio n s

The Unit e d S t a t e s h a s m a de histo r ic p r o g re ss in t h e int er n a tion a l c li m a te n e g oti a tions du r i n g the

p a st f our y e a r s. At the C op e nh a g e n C on f ere n c e o f the Unit e d N a tions F r a m e wo r k C onv e ntion on

C li m a te C h a n g e ( U N F CCC ) in 2009, P re sid e nt Ob a m a a nd oth e r wo r ld l ea d er s a g r ee d f o r the

f i r st ti m e th a t a ll m a jor c ount r i e s, wh e th e r d e v e lop e d or d e v e lopi n g , would i m pl e m e nt t a r g e ts or

ac tions to li m it g ree nho u se e m issions, a nd do so und e r a n e w r e g ime of int er n a tion a l

t ra nsp are n c y . And in 20 1 1, a t the y e a r

- e nd c li m a te m ee ting in D u r b a n, w e a c hi e v e d a not h e r

b rea kth r o u g h: C ount r i e s a g ree d to n e g oti a te a n e w a g ree m e n t b y t h e e nd of 2015 th a t would

h a ve e q u a l l e g a l f o r c e a n d be a ppli ca ble to a ll c o u nt r i e s in the p er iod a f t e r 2020. This w a s a n

i m po r t a nt st e p b e y ond the p re vious l e g a l a g r e e m e nt, the K y oto P r oto c ol, w hose c o r e obl i g a tions

a ppli e d to d e v e lop e d c o u nt r i e s, not to C hin a

, I ndi a

, B ra z il or oth e r e m e r g i n g c ount r i e s.

The 2015 c li m a te c o n fe r e n c e is sl a t e d to pl a y a c r iti ca l r ole in d ef ining a p ost

- 2020 t ra j ec to r y

. W e will be s ee king a n a g ree m e nt th a t is a m bitious, in c lusive a nd f l e x ibl e

. I t n ee ds to be

a m bitious to m ee t the s ca le of the c h a ll e nge f a c ing us. I t n ee ds to be in c lus i ve b eca use th er e is

no w a y to m ee t th a t c h a ll e nge unl e ss a ll c ount r i e s st e p up a nd pl a y th e ir p a r t. And it n ee ds to be

f l e x ible b eca use th e r e a r e m a n y di f fe r e nt l y situ a t e d p ar ti e s with th e ir own n ee ds a nd imp e r a tiv e s,

a nd those di ffere n ce s wi l l h a ve to be a c c om m od a t e d in s m ar t, p rac ti ca l w a y s

.

At the s a m e ti m e a s w e wo r k tow ar d this out c o m e in the UN F CC C c ont e x t, we ar e m a ki n g

p r og re ss in a v a r i e t y of o th e r impo r t a nt n e g oti a ti o ns a s w e ll. At the Mont r e a l P r oto c ol, we a r e

l ea ding eff o r ts in suppo r t of a n a m e ndm e nt th a t w ould ph a se down H F C s; a t the I nt er n a tion a l

M ar iti m e O r g a ni z a tion, we h a ve a g r e e d to a nd a r e now i mpl e m e nting t h e f i r st

- e v e r s e c to r

- wi d e,

int er n a tion a l l y a ppli ca ble e n e rg y e ff i c i e n c y st a nd ar ds; a nd a t the I nt er n a tion a l C ivil Avi a tion

O r g a ni z a tion, we h a ve a mbitious a spi ra tion a l e mi ssions a nd e n e rg y e ff i c i e n c y t a r g e ts a nd ar e

wo r king to w ar ds a g ree m e nt to d e v e lop a c o m p re h e nsive g lo b a l a pp r o ac h.