United States
The Unites States of America
Overall NDC Equity Score
Insufficient
Emissions Reductions
Average
NDC meets basic expectations in emissions reductions, but is still not ambitious enough.
Gender Justice
Critically Deficient
NDC has significant gaps in addressing gender mainstreaming, not including gender at all in the NDC process or implementation.
Youth Inclusion
Average
NDC has significant gaps in addressing youth inclusion, not addressing young people at all in the NDC, including the development process or any implementation of climate action.
Summary
The United States is a geographically and culturally diverse country. Its political system is complex, with responsibilities largely delegated between federal and state governments. The United States is unique in its global economic, political and cultural influence.
The US is a major contributor to the climate crisis, emitting 12.5% of global emissions in 2018, despite representing only 4.2% of the global population. The economic powerhouse benefitted from the fossil fuel industry for over 150 years, but can now use its economic power to drive global decarbonization and fund climate adaptation in the countries that did not cause climate change, yet suffer from its impacts more. After pulling out of the Paris Agreement in 2016 and rejoining in 2021, the USA submitted its first NDC in 2021. Domestic climate policy in the United States has since advanced through the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act (which devoted $370 billion USD to clean energy technologies) and the adoption of a 2050 net zero emissions target.
On gender mainstreaming: The USA could strengthen its efforts to mainstream gender equity into domestic and foreign policy by passing federal legislation codifying the Biden-Harris administration’s national strategy and including its gender-specific climate strategies in the next NDC. While the first ever national gender strategy passed in 2021, the US NDC does not include efforts that address gender equality in climate policy.
On youth inclusion: The USA does not have an established stance on intergenerational justice, but arguments can be made that the country is slowly awakening to the concept. The Environmental Protection Agency established a National Environmental Youth Advisory Council (NEYAC) in 2023 to provide recommendations to the EPA’s Administrator on environmental issues. Still, there is no reference of youth inclusion in the NDC.
Highlights
- The National Climate Task Force led a participatory consultation process to guide the NDC development. Consulted groups included youth activists, unions, scientists, subnational governments, higher education, business and government agency stakeholders while developing the USA NDC.
- The USA is addressing environmental injustice through climate finance. The USA acknowledges that climate impacts have disproportionately affected historically disadvantaged communities and “prioritizes investment” in these communities by mandating that 40% of the benefits from federal climate investments must flow to disadvantaged communities.
- The USA plans to reach 100% carbon pollution-free electricity by 2035 through incentives and portfolio standards.
Lowlights
- The USA’s emission reduction goal will not limit global average temperature rise to 1.5C
- The USA’s emission reduction goal is not fair to the Global South. Given that the USA has emitted a significant portion of global emissions (to the benefit of its economy and people), the country has a responsibility to reduce greenhouse gas emissions more than other countries. To compensate for its role in the climate crisis, the USA should reduce emissions 75% below 2005 level by 2035.
- The NDC does not acknowledge the disproportionate climate impacts faced by women and children. It should be noted that the USA has since developed strategies to mainstream gender into climate policy and build a green economy for future generations.
Key Recommendations
This analysis focuses on emissions targets and reduction strategies, as the United States is a top emitting country. However, vulnerable communities are not addressed as stakeholders, which showcases a gap in addressing gender equality and youth inclusion in climate policy. Regarding emission ambitious reduction goals, the US fails to recognize it’s role in global emissions contributions and does not have a plan that reduces its emissions aligning with global targets.
The NDC would benefit from enhancing opportunities for engagement and community-wide capacity building for women and young people to lead development and implementation processes of the NDC. The following are key recommendations for the improvement of future NDCs and other national climate plans:
For Gender Justice
- Incorporate the climate strategies laid out in the National Strategy on Gender Equity and Equality into the NDC.
- Close the wage gap in green economy initiatives, including the American Climate Corps and Women in the Sustainable Economy.
- Expand mandatory parental leave to promote mental and physical health for children and parents and increase community resilience.
- Expand access to reproductive healthcare.
For Youth Inclusion
- Acknowledge that young people are important decision-makers who can drive change for climate action, and beneficiaries of climate action efforts.
- Integrate youth into key decision-making agencies to bring intergenerational perspectives to climate policy.
- Integrate youth green skills training, such as the American Climate Corps and future initiatives, into the updated NDC.
- Ensure green economy initiatives and the American Climate Corps provide competitive, liveable wages adjusted for inflation and area of living.
- Fund youth attendance at COP through the Office of Global Change.
NDC ambassador - author
