The Net Zero America study aims to inform and ground political, business, and societal conversations regarding what it would take for the U.S. to achieve an economy-wide target of net-zero emissions of greenhouse gases by 2050. Achieving this goal, i.e. building an economy that emits no more greenhouse gases into the atmosphere than are permanently removed and stored each year, is essential to halt the buildup of climate-warming gases in the atmosphere and avert costly damages from climate change. Given that growing number of corporations, municipalities, states, and national governments are making pledges to reach net-zero emissions by 2050 or sooner, this study provides detailed guidance on what actions are needed to translate these pledges into tangible progress.
The Net-Zero America research quantifies five distinct technological pathways, all using technologies known today, by which the United States could decarbonize its entire economy. These five pathways are presented interactively, to enable policy makers and other stakeholders to extract specific results that are most useful to them. The five approaches are: 1) E+/High Electrification, 2) E-/Less High Electrification, 3) E-B+/High Biomass, 4) E+ RE-/Renewable Constrained, 5) E+ RE+/100% Renewable and a 6th scenario for Reference only.
Read more at Princeton’s report website “Net-Zero America,” where you can download the Full Report and view and download the Annexes.