SDSN USA Holds Open Member Meeting to Develop the US Deep Decarbonization Pathways Project
On September 28th, Caroline Fox, Elena Crete and Jeffrey Sachs from SDSN USA hosted the Pathways Project Open Meeting as an event alongside the UNGA. Around 35 people from academia, private industry, and government agencies participated in the four hour long meeting. The meeting objective was to provide a forum for network members to share ongoing climate and energy projects within the US and to discuss opportunities to collaborate on drafting a nationwide decarbonization policy framework with local, state, regional, and national dimensions.
Jim Williams kicked off the meeting by introducing the US Pathways Project, followed by Vijay Modi who spoke on the decarbonization of the Northeast and energy poverty. Further, Timmons Roberts presented the Rhode Island Green New Deal, highlighted the importance of emission accounting, and emphasized the need for public engagement when transforming to a decarbonized energy system. James Bacchus announced the launch of the East Central Florida Regional Resilience Collaborative this October, and Christian Braneon from NASA GISS confirmed that cities are on the frontline of tackling climate change.
Other presenters demonstrated the value in involving young people in their work. Christ Forest from the Penn State Drawdown Project, Sam Loni from SDSN Youth, and Noah Kauffman from the Center on Global Energy Policy pointed towards the youth movement’s integral role in combating climate change and highlighted the value of interdisciplinary resources and knowledge at universities for the development of climate leadership.
Michael Gerrard presented on a book he edited alongside John Dernbach, who was also present: “Legal Pathways to Deep Decarbonization in the United States: Summary and Key Recommendations” which showcases 1500 specific recommendations for federal, state, local and private action. Professor Gerrard also spoke about the Renewable Energy Legal Defense Initiative which offers pro bono legal advice for communities wanting to create a positive environmental impact, for example by building wind farms, but face legal opposition.
The meeting showed that legal tools are available to decarbonize the US, however the network sees the necessity to further discuss innovative financial solutions and business models, such as green bonds, green bank, etc. and to evaluate what the optimum balance between market mechanisms, regulation, and laws should be in decarbonizing the US. Ideally, both political parties would see the economical, societal and environmental benefits to action and join forces to transform to a clean energy system.
Moving forward, the network is considering organizing into working groups to establish a political framework for the decarbonization of the US energy system. The framework would cover legal, technological, financial, as well as behavioral and aspects of a just transition.
For more information on the US Deep Decarbonization Pathways Project please click here. If you wish to get involved or receive more information, please email usa@unsdsn.org.
About SDSN USA
The SDSN USA network brings together researchers, knowledge creators, and thought leaders to mobilize expertise on the SDGs in the United States. The network is hosted by Columbia University in New York City, New York; Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut; and the University of California, San Diego in San Diego, California. The network launched in December 2018 and has grown to become the largest network at SDSN. For more information, please visit their website or email them at usa@unsdsn.org.