Environmental (Commonwealth Union)_ Joe Biden has unveiled ambitious new targets for reducing the United States’ carbon dioxide emissions, framing them as the culmination of his administration’s climate legacy. These measures aim to solidify progress before Donald Trump assumes office, bringing with him a drastically different approach to climate policy.
As part of this effort, Biden’s administration is submitting revised commitments to the Paris Agreement, the international climate treaty from which Trump has pledged to withdraw. The updated goals call for cutting greenhouse gas emissions from 61% to 66% by 2035, compared to 2005 levels. Officials emphasized that these targets would position the U.S. on a trajectory to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
In a recorded statement, Biden described the past four years as delivering “the boldest climate agenda in American history.” He highlighted the Inflation Reduction Act, $450 billion in private-sector investments in clean energy and manufacturing, and policies promoting efficiency and conservation as cornerstones of this agenda.
“American industry will continue to innovate and invest,” Biden stated. “State, local, and tribal governments will rise to the challenge. Together, we can transform this existential threat into an unprecedented opportunity for our nation.”
The submission of this new plan, known as a nationally determined contribution (NDC), to the United Nations is more than symbolic, administration officials stressed. John Podesta, senior adviser to the president on international climate policy, remarked, “Sub-national leaders across the U.S. will demonstrate that America’s climate leadership extends far beyond the Oval Office.”
Acknowledging Trump’s likely reversal of the NDC, officials noted that the plan still serves vital purposes. It outlines the potential U.S. role in combating the climate crisis, provides a roadmap for states, local governments, and businesses to continue climate action, and signals to other nations the importance of sustained commitment.
“U.S. climate leadership has spurred global progress,” Podesta remarked, underscoring the country’s role in motivating other nations to enhance their climate ambitions.
Under the Paris Agreement, nations are required to submit updated NDCs by February. In November 2025, global leaders will convene in Brazil for a critical UN summit to forge strategies to limit global temperature rises to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. Scientists warn that sustained breaches of this limit could lead to irreversible consequences.
Despite the ambitious new targets, experts caution that they fall short of the reductions needed to meet the 1.5°C threshold. Climate scientists recommend reducing U.S. emissions by 62% to 65% by 2030, which is five years earlier than Biden’s current goal.
Gareth Redmond-King, head of the international programme at the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit, praised the ambition while noting room for improvement. “This sets a strong agenda for the next four years, considering who is about to take office. However, a 2030 goal would better align with the science and global needs.” Redmond-King expressed optimism that states, cities, and businesses will continue to champion climate initiatives under the Paris framework, ensuring progress despite federal opposition.
Debbie Weyl, acting director of the World Resources Institute, acknowledged the challenges but emphasized the importance of state and local efforts. “The target represents the lower bound of scientific necessity but approaches the upper bound of political feasibility. Local leadership will be critical to achieving this vision.”
Biden’s climate legacy also includes advancements in renewable energy, but his tenure coincided with record highs in fossil fuel production. U.S. oil output reached unprecedented levels, and the nation became the world’s top exporter of natural gas. The nation issued 758 new oil and gas extraction licenses in 2023 alone, nearly matching the total from the previous three years combined.
Many analysts believe that the clean energy sector will continue to gain momentum despite Trump’s expected support for the fossil fuel industries. Clarence Edwards, executive director of E3G USA, highlighted the economic benefits of this transition. “The shift to clean energy will create new jobs and establish the U.S. as a leader in innovative climate technologies that will shape the 21st century.”
The escalating impacts of climate change manifesting as droughts, floods, heatwaves, and storms are likely to reinforce the urgency of climate action over the next four years.
