The Cost of Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions in the United States

Summary

The costs of greenhouse gas mitigation strategies for the United States are sensitive to the baseline rates of growth for such gases. This paper builds upon the previous work of EPA (e.g., “Policy Implications of a Comprehensive Greenhouse Gas Budget,” by Cristofaro and Scheraga) and establishes a projection of future emissions of major greenhouse gases. The focus is on the next twenty years, a period in which the U.S. will reduce emissions of a number of greenhouse gases because of implementation of the Clean Air Act and the CFC Protocol. Future CO₂ emissions are expected to rise, however, and two possible emission scenarios are presented. Possible emission control scenarios are then discussed in the context of a comprehensive greenhouse gas approach, and preliminary cost estimates are given for a limited set of policy options.