Ahead of COP29, Climate Coalition Releases a New Report on A Science and Justice Aligned U.S. NDC
Contact:
Rebecca Stoner, rebecca.stoner@priceofoil.org, 917-561-2607
Ahead of COP29, Climate Coalition Releases a New Report on A Science and Justice Aligned U.S. NDC
Video clips from the press conference will be available here.
In the coming months, signatories to the Paris Agreement will begin to share updated climate commitments, known as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), which are due in February 2025. NDCs, which are updated every five years, detail the measures a country will take to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and – for wealthy countries such as the U.S. – provide finance and technology to developing nations to support their transitions from fossil fuels.
Today, a coalition of climate action groups and frontline community leaders will release their vision for a U.S. NDC aligned with science and justice. The updated U.S. Fair Share NDC reflects the U.S.’s outsized responsibility to address the climate crisis as the largest historical emitter, the biggest producer of oil and gas today, and the wealthiest country in history.
The authors articulate why and how the U.S. must cut its domestic emissions by 80% from 2005 levels by 2035. To equitably phase out fossil fuels with a reasonable (66%) chance of limiting warming to the 1.5 degree Celsius Paris Agreement goal, the U.S. must end coal production by 2030, and oil and gas production by 2031. U.S. oil output has surged in the past decade to record levels of production and is now far above any other country in history at 13.4 million barrels per day. Likewise, U.S. production of liquified natural gas (LNG) is higher than any other country, yet the industry plans to expand by another 200% by 2030, more than all other countries combined.
Key asks:
The U.S. Fair Share NDC calls on the U.S. to immediately end fossil fuel expansion, lead a fair and fast phase-out of existing fossil fuel production, develop significant public transportation infrastructure, and advance a just transition to 100% clean energy by 2030 to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement. This will require a monumental shift in U.S. policy.
The model NDC also lays out what it will take for the U.S. to contribute its fair share of funding to climate mitigation, adaptation, and loss and damage in the Global South. The U.S.’s historic emissions are so large that the U.S. cannot mitigate enough emissions domestically to fulfill its “fair share” of responsibility for the climate crisis. It must also provide Global South countries annually with $106 billion in mitigation funding and $340 billion worth of adaptation and loss and damage funding by 2030. To mobilize money on such a scale, the U.S. can redirect funding for fossil fuel subsidies and military weaponry, and make wealthy elites and big polluters pay for the damages they’ve already caused. Finally, changing global rules on debt, taxes, trade and technology will also significantly expand the fiscal space Global South countries have to finance their own transitions, lowering the overall bill.
The upcoming U.S. election in November 2024 adds crucial significance to these climate commitments. The next administration will be responsible for finalizing and submitting the updated NDC in early 2025, potentially shaping U.S. climate policy for years to come. The election outcome could dramatically influence whether the U.S. adopts ambitious targets.
Statements:
Basav Sen, Climate Policy Director, Institute for Policy Studies
“The U.S. is the world’s largest oil and gas producer and largest cumulative greenhouse gas emitter. It’s time the U.S. took responsibility for its outsized role in causing the climate crisis. The Fair Share NDC is a pathway for the U.S. to actually become the climate leader it claims to be, both internationally and at home.”
Russell Armstrong, International Policy Liaison, U.S. Climate Action Network
“Climate justice requires the United States to commit to doing more to address the global climate crisis at home and abroad. The Fair Share NDC is more than just a pledge, it is a roadmap for how the U.S. can prevent the coming catastrophe. By eliminating fossil fuel production, protecting public lands, investing in sustainable cities, and transitioning to a more just, green economy, the U.S. can still actually achieve an 80% reduction in emissions by 2035. This report puts forth an ambitious yet measurable path forward that protects people and the planet.”
Hailey Campbell, Co-Executive Director, Care About Climate and U.S. National Youth Policy Council Coordinator
“Our future depends on leaders who prioritize bold climate policies, protect vulnerable communities, and commit to meeting international climate commitments. An ambitious NDC is not just about politics or about proving that the U.S. is a climate leader — it's about survival. We need a government that acknowledges the urgency of the climate crisis and commits to equitable action."
Ben Goloff, Senior Climate Campaigner, Center for Biological Diversity
“As fossil-fueled storms and fires rage worldwide, the United States has a duty to lead a fossil fuel phaseout and finance a fast, fair transition to renewable energy. All eyes are on the world’s largest historical carbon polluter. The U.S. needs to commit to a robust climate target that represents its fair share — and follow through on it.”
Jacob Johns, A Wisdom Keepers Delegation
"As we approach COP29, it’s critical that the U.S. not only lead in climate action but also honor our Indigenous knowledge and uphold Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC). True climate justice requires respecting the wisdom of our peoples and ensuring our voices shape the path to a livable future for all."
Ashfaq Khalfan, Director of Climate Justice, Oxfam America
“The United States ranks dead last among the world’s 20 largest economies in meeting its fair share of emissions reduction – it has the largest gap between what it plans to cut by 2030 and what is actually needed to do its part as the largest historical emitter and richest country. The U.S. is worse than economies such as the European Union, Australia, Saudi Arabia, and China. The Fair Share NDC we are proposing today sets out what the United States should commit to in its next national climate plan. By doing so, the U.S. could champion bold climate action and lead the world in tackling this crisis.”
Natalie Lucas, Fair Share Collaborative Coordinator, People’s Justice Council
“The stakes are getting higher for all of us because the U.S. has not addressed the climate crisis quickly enough. The Fair Share NDC is a roadmap for what the United States can do to shift the country to address our emissions, modernize our grid and transportation systems, and build the circular economy we want and need for the future.”
Rev. Michael Malcom, Founder, The People’s Justice Council
“When your house is on fire, you put it out. You do what you have to do to extinguish the fire. What you don’t want to do is continue fueling the flame. Beloveds, our collective home is on fire. We need to do all we can to put the fire out. Instead, we are fanning the flame while discussing the fire. It is time for us to shift. We need to shift our priorities so that the house doesn’t burn down. The Fair Share NDC provides a path for us to make the shift and become the climate leaders that we inspire to be.”
Victor Menotti, Senior Fellow at the Oakland Institute and U.S. Coordinator, Global Campaign to Demand Climate Justice
“It's not leadership for the top polluting country to contribute only the global average of emission cuts needed while providing no finance or technology to countries who did not cause today's climate crisis. Leadership starts with recognizing one's responsibilities, and lifting up others to help do their utmost. The U.S. Fair Share NDC details what the world needs the U.S. to do to limit warming to within 1.5 degrees Celsius, equitably.”
Allie Rosenbluth, U.S. Program Manager at Oil Change International
“The U.S. has a long way to go to become the climate leader the world needs. It's the largest producer of oil and gas in human history, and it plans to expand fossil fuels far beyond what's compatible with a livable climate. The Fair Share NDC shows what the U.S. must do to change course, starting with an equitable phaseout of fossil fuels and paying its fair share to the countries dealing with the consequences of U.S. extraction.”
Kelly Stone, Senior Policy Analyst with ActionAid USA
"NDCs are at the heart of the Paris Agreement. If this round of NDCs doesn't massively increase ambition for cutting emissions and supporting poorer countries, the world will miss many key climate goals – which will mean more and more devastating impacts for people on the ground. The U.S., as the largest historical emitter, cannot go around demanding more from other countries without first promising to do its part of the work. The U.S. needs to put forward an equitable and ambitious NDC to do its fair share, not only with domestic action but with grant-based climate finance."
Ren Martin, Eco-Justice Program Coordinator with North Carolina Interfaith Power & Light and Youth Climate Policy Council Co-Founder
“We cannot let fear or apathy control us. That’s why we’re taking a hold of our own future! That means acknowledging the history behind how we got here and fulfilling our responsibility to act on the climate crisis. This fair share is our opportunity to take action and build global resilience. We’re shifting the narrative within the US to create a country I could be proud to build my future in. When we act with hope, we are stronger than fear!”
ENDS
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