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Consensus Study Report
Accelerating Decarbonization in the United States: Technology, Policy, and Societal Dimensions
Prepublication

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Addressing climate change is essential and possible, and it offers a host of benefits - from better public health to new economic opportunities. The United States has a historic opportunity to lead the way in decarbonization by transforming its current energy system to one with net-zero emissions of carbon dioxide. Recent legislation has set the nation on the path to reach its goal of net zero by 2050 in order to avoid the worst consequences of climate change. However, even if implemented as designed, current policy will get the United States only part of the way to its net-zero goal.

Accelerating Decarbonization in the United States provides a comprehensive set of actionable recommendations to help policymakers achieve a just and equitable energy transition over the next decade and beyond, including policy, technology, and societal dimensions. This report addresses federal and subnational policy needs to overcome implementation barriers and gaps with a focus on energy justice, workforce development, public health, and public engagement. The report also presents a suite of recommendations for the electricity, transportation, built environment, industrial, fossil fuels, land use, and finance sectors.

Suggested Citation

National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2023. Accelerating Decarbonization in the United States: Technology, Policy, and Societal Dimensions. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/25931.

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Publication Info

652 pages |  8.5 x 11 | 

ISBNs: 
  • Prepublication:  978-0-309-68281-7
  • Paperback (forthcoming):  978-0-309-68284-8
DOI: https://doi.org/10.17226/25931
Chapters skim
Front Matter i-xiv
Executive Summary 1-2
Summary 3-29
1 Introduction 30-65
2 Energy Justice and Equity 66-111
3 Public Health Co-Benefits and Impacts of Decarbonization 112-154
4 Workforce Needs, Opportunities, and Support 155-192
5 Public Engagement to Build a Strong Social Contract for Deep Decarbonization 193-240
6 The Essential Role of Clean Electricity 241-276
7 The Built Environment 277-324
8 Land Use 325-360
9 Transport 361-406
10 Industrial Decarbonization 407-458
11 Aligning the Financial Sector and Capital Markets with the Energy Transition 459-482
12 The Future of Fossil Fuels 483-531
13 Enhancing and Realizing the Climate Ambitions and Capacities of Subnational Actors: State and Local Government Perspectives 532-565
Appendixes 566-567
Appendix A: Committee Member Biographical Information 568-574
Appendix B: Disclosure of Unavoidable Conflicts of Interest 575-576
Appendix C: First Report Policy Recommendations 577-590
Appendix D: Public Meetings 591-592
Appendix E: Decarbonization Technologies and Related Equity and Justice Concerns 593-598
Appendix F: Equity and Justice Scorecard - Inflation Reduction Act Provisions 599-606
Appendix G: Disadvantaged Community as Defined by Implementers of Justice40 Covered Programs 607-611
Appendix H: Public Health Provisions in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and Inflation Reduction Act 612-619
Appendix I: Public Engagement Scorecard - Current Federal Policy Portfolio 620-622
Appendix J: Select Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and Inflation Reduction Act Provisions Implicating Subnational Entities 623-633
Appendix K: Acronyms and Abbreviations 634-638

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