Seeing is believing: creating a new climate economy in the United States
A growing body of evidence shows that economic growth is not in conflict with efforts to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. Experience at the state and national levels demonstrates that well-designed policies can reduce greenhouse gas emissions while providing overall net public benefits, for example, through improved public health, as well as direct financial benefits to businesses and consumers. Policies are often necessary to unlock these opportunities, however, because market barriers hamper investment in what are otherwise beneficial activities. This study examined several opportunities for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, including: Reducing the carbon intensity of power generation; Improving electric efficiency in the residential and commercial sectors; Building cleaner, more fuel-efficient passenger vehicles; Improving production, processing, and transmission of natural gas; and Reducing consumption of high global warming potential hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs).