United States

Written By Care About Climate
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NDC Overview

One-page overview presented by Logan Ejupi and Sydney Welter in September, 2021.

Introduction

The United States, as the second-highest greenhouse gas emitter and a high-income country, is responsible for substantially greater ambition on climate change than it currently demonstrates. While the country’s enhanced NDC submitted in April 2021 is a substantial improvement from the first NDC submitted in 2015, the US must more strongly commit to cutting all emissions, funding climate action globally, and centering climate justice and equity in all aspects of climate pledge development and implementation. This one-pager provides a brief overview of the US NDC and opportunities for continued learning and involvement.

Emissions

The 2021 US NDC sets “an economy-wide target of reducing its net greenhouse gas emissions by 50-52 percent below 2005 levels in 2030,” focusing on emissions reductions in the electric, transportation, building, industrial, and agricultural sectors (GOUS, 2021). This reflects an increased rate of reduction from the 2015 US NDC goal of reducing emissions “by 26-28 per cent below its 2005 level in 2025” (GOUS, 2015). Ultimately, this goal is still insufficient; the necessary target to mitigate the worst effects of climate change is to reach zero emissions as rapidly as possible. The US Climate Action Network, “believes that the US fair share of the global mitigation effort in 2030 is equivalent to a reduction of 195% below its 2005 emissions levels,” achieved through a 70% reduction in domestic greenhouse gas emissions, and the other 125% equivalent achieved through “financial and technological support for adaptation and rapid decarbonization in developing countries” (US Climate Action Network, 2020). Additionally, despite its unambitious and inadequate target, the US is not currently on track for the goals laid out in its NDCs, only achieving a 10% emissions reduction from 2005 levels in 2020 while the NDC states that a 17% reduction was expected (EPA, 2020; GOUS, 2015).

Climate Justice and Equity

The 2021 US NDC reflects improvement on climate justice from the very sparse 2015 NDC by committing to “creating well-paid employment in the low carbon economy,” “environmental justice,” and “prioritizing investment that benefits” communities hit hardest by climate change.

However, the 2021 US NDC makes no commitment to intergenerational equity or protections for young and future generations or to climate action prioritizing women or Indigenous Peoples, except in reference to a range of stakeholders consulted in the NDC planning process. The NDC does not indicate specifically how any of these stakeholders were consulted, nor the extent to which their input affected the final NDC or will continue to be included to guide NDC implementation. All of these groups are disproportionately harmed by climate change, and to neglect them is an unacceptable oversight.

The US NDC claims that the policies outlined will “advance equity and achieve environmental justice priorities,” but it does not specify how that will occur. This lack of detailed consideration shows the disregard for these important issues in the NDC, and further specific insight is needed to ensure that these priorities are not disregarded in favor of political expediency.

Regarding funding climate action globally, the US NDC explains that domestic investment will “allow American firms to develop and export innovative greenhouse gas-reducing solutions,” however it does not specify what these solutions are anticipated to be, how large of an impact they are expected to have globally, or - crucially - how they will be funded (GOUS, 2021). For one of the foremost historic greenhouse gas-producing nations to leave this key responsibility up to private firms, rather than the federal government, is a shameful abdication of responsibility.

Ongoing Work and Opportunities

Throughout early 2021, Care About Climate coordinated actions and a series of youth climate demands around the latest US NDC. Care About Climate, in partnership with the Power Shift Network, is continuing to expand our work on the role of the US in international climate action. Email policy@careaboutclimate.org to get involved!

Care About Climate also endorses the USA Fair Shares NDC authored by the US Climate Action Network. Read it here.

References

NDC Analysis

Analysis prepared and presented by Ruth Hollands in September, 2021.

Climate change does not discriminate; the ongoing climate crisis continues to affect women and men differently. Earlier this year, the United States submitted its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), an action plan highlighting the country’s national climate plan and actions. While the US addressed an ambitious plan to greatly reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, they failed to include a gender-focused perspective. The United States must adopt a gender-inclusive action plan that considers women and girls as powerful agents of change and essential to sustainable climate action.

According to the Paris Agreement, parties acknowledge that climate change is a “common concern of humankind [and] Parties should…respect and promote and consider their respective obligations on… gender equality, [and] empowerment of women…” With this language, the Paris Agreement notes that gender is a powerful component in the strategy to face the challenges brought on by the ongoing climate crisis. NDCs submitted by the Parties must include their climate plans of action, mitigation and adaptation. In order to fully engage all vulnerable and impacted groups, it is the responsibility of the Parties to engage and include any and all impacts of all affected by climate change. Under Article 7 of the Paris Agreement, the Parties acknowledge that adaptation action should follow a country-driven, gender-responsive, participatory, and fully transparent approach.

Growing studies show that women are more vulnerable to climate change than men, thus their inclusivity is paramount in the understanding of climate-related discussions, action plans, and adaptation methods. Research from Nature Communications, show that empowering women through improved healthcare, education, and representation in government could help societies adapt more quickly and easily to the impacts of climate change. When women are not considered in their full capacities, governments and social institutions fail not only women and non-binary persons, but they are also failing general communities as more than half the population becomes victims of mismanaged and underrepresented policy. In the developing world, more than 70% of girls experience high levels of gender inequality. If improved, progress towards achieving gender equality could see this number drop below 25% by 2050. As one of the most influential countries in the world, the United States has a responsibility to lead by example and start righting these social injustices.

A 2019 study suggests that countries with more female politicians pass more ambitious climate policies.

Women play a critical role in the response to climate change due to their knowledge and leadership in sustainable resource management, and they lead sustainable practices at their household and community level. Women’s participation at the political level has also been shown to result in greater responsiveness to citizen’s needs, delivering more sustainable practices. A 2019 study suggests that countries with more female politicians pass more ambitious climate policies. Women have proven to be leading the way towards more equitable and sustainable solutions to climate change. When policies are implemented without a gender-inclusive perspective, inequalities and overall effectiveness decrease.

The United States NDC must dedicate a strategy to improve gender-inclusive practices within the country. The US states they are committed to standing with the workers and communities “too often left behind”. Women and non-binary persons are within these communities and they continue to be undermined in many policies, including those addressing climate crisis issues in the country. The NDC also proposes a plan to create jobs that will drive the nation’s economy that will help with the overall plan to reduce emissions, but there is no talk about the wage gap. As helpful as these positions will be for the US workforce and the environment, the US needs to address and work on eliminating the gender gap. In 2020, women earned 84% of what men earned, according to a Pew Research Center analysis of median hourly earnings of both full- and part-time workers in the United States. The US needs to do better in addressing gender inequality at a national level. As a leading nation, the US must promote positive social changes and fix these inequalities, which deter the country from moving forward at full capacity.

It is important to ensure equal space and resources for women and men to participate in climate change decision-making and action at all levels. Recognizing women’s important contributions as decision-makers, stakeholders, educators, and experts across all sectors and at all levels can lead to successful, long-term solutions to climate change. Countries with high levels of gender inequality usually see lower levels of climate action, based on a study by the Carbon Brief. Improvements in gender equality contribute to climate resilience for society as a whole. The US must implement these changes to social justice. Applying a gender lens to climate action policies is essential to the success of these strategies. Women must be included in all climate-related action and planning. Social equity is integral in proposing and implementing effective climate action and the US cannot afford to lose women’s support in its strategies to combat climate change. The US must become more transparent about its role as a world leader in reducing emissions, but also as a developed country working on improving social injustices and including all genders. Applying a gender lens to all climate-related policies will not only help vulnerable communities, but will also be a step forward toward an equitable future.

Authors

One-page overview presented by Logan Ejupi and Sydney Welter in September, 2021.

Analysis prepared and presented by Ruth Hollands in September, 2021.

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