WASHINGTON, April 22, 2021 – Heather Reams, executive director of Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions (CRES), today released the following statement in response to President Biden’s pledge to reduce the United States’ emissions by at least 50% by 2030:
“We all want to reduce emissions, but we need to be smart about it. We should cut energy prices, not energy choices, reduce our emissions not our economy, and export American innovation, not American jobs. The Biden Administration’s proposal does the opposite.
“Based on currently available technology, there is no pathway to halve America’s emissions by 2030 without radically impacting our already battered economy. We know that by 2030, 90% of all new emissions will come from the developing world and China. So, we need solutions that can be adopted as readily in India as in Indiana. Trying to meet this unrealistic target would also require a massive reliance on Chinese mining and manufacturing—undermining our economic and energy security. Investing in Chinese factories is not a clean energy jobs program that works for America.
“America’s carbon dioxide emissions fell by 11% last year, largely due to COVID-19 lockdowns. We would have to be willing to commit to much greater emissions reductions in total to achieve the Biden Administration’s pledge. When it comes to climate change, follow the science but also do the math. CRES’ analysis found to satisfy the Administration’s pledge, every year for the next eight years the U.S. would have to cut emissions four times more than our average reduction during economic growth. Right now, America leads the world in lowering emissions, but Biden’s America would threaten small businesses, create record unemployment for years to come, and disproportionately hurt working families and disadvantaged communities.”
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Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions (CRES) engages Republican policymakers and the public about responsible, conservative solutions to address our nation’s energy, economic, and environmental security while increasing America’s competitive edge. For more information, visit www.citizensfor.com.