Exclusive: Kerry says legislation not essential to climate goals

Climate Commissioner John Kerry downplayed the possible failure of the reconciliation bill in Congress, suggesting that the US could achieve its goal of halving emissions by 2030 in some other way.

His comments on E&E News came as historic climate legislation struggled to gain a foothold in the Senate, just weeks before leaders meet in Glasgow, Scotland to work out a five-year plan to reduce global emissions.

“I just think people miscalculate when they think that the whole thing depends on a single piece of legislation,” Kerry said in an interview. “Is it important as a law? Yes, definitely. But it is not the key to Glasgow, it is not the only determinant of what will develop. “

The $ 3.5 trillion Atonement Act is a pillar of President Biden’s climate agenda. It would reduce power plant emissions by up to 80 percent by 2030 through the Clean Electricity Payment Program and invest billions in charging stations for electric cars. Fees would also be introduced for fossil fuel producers who release methane emissions.

If the legislation is not passed, the US could still meet the targets announced in April of reducing overall emissions by 50-52 percent by the end of the decade. But it would be much more difficult.

“Without the cost-cutting support from Congressional measures, leaders will face higher technical and political hurdles in pursuing the ambitious measures needed to meet the 50-52 percent target,” said Kate Larsen, director of the Rhodium Group in an email.

Kerry said there are various initiatives the EPA and other departments such as energy, transportation and home affairs can take to help meet the US goals.

He also pointed to the market forces that have made renewable energy more competitive and corporate-level action.

“This transformation is definitely happening. It doesn’t depend entirely on Congress, ”Kerry said. “Is it important to have some of the things that Congress has in front of you? Yes sir. But, in large part, this march towards this new economy is happening because the private sector has decided that it is the future.

“And there is a lot of investment going on in green hydrogen, battery storage, carbon capture and direct carbon capture,” he added. “Even the oil companies have understood that there must be a future with large amounts of CO2 capture and storage.”

Another option: a price on carbon.

While warning of the European Union’s proposed carbon limit charges, Kerry said he was confident that carbon pricing “will be one of the considerations that will be on the table for the next few years”.

Carbon pricing programs such as emission taxes have fallen politically out of favor, even if other countries adopt them. The Clean Electricity Payment Program under consideration by Congress would pay utilities to sell more renewable energy instead of charging them for releasing emissions.

When the White House announced its new climate targets in April, there was a lack of detail, generally referring to incentives and regulations, without saying where they came from or how they would be constructed.

Climate Action Tracker, which conducts an independent scientific analysis of national commitments, has classified the US pledge as “insufficient” because it depends on guidelines that do not yet exist, said Bill Hare, CEO of Climate Analytics, a climate policy group that the tracker helps with the creation.

“What you’re hearing from big developing countries right now is, ‘OK, the US has a nice target, but where’s the action? Can Biden really deliver? ‘”He said.

In the months since it was accepted, the administration has set the course to achieve its goals.

These include state and federal regulations, electric vehicle procurement, and other policies that can help reduce emissions – although they may not be big enough to meet the goals.

But if Biden’s appearance on the global scene in Glasgow next month coincides with the decline of his legislative agenda on climate change, he’ll find it harder to convince foreign leaders to trust US aspirations.

“The rest of the world is well aware of the legislation being pushed forward and is hoping that Congress will pass it,” said Saleemul Huq, director of the Bangladesh-based International Center for Climate Change and Development.

With the timing pending, Kerry pushed the message forward that the United States – along with a handful of other nations – is committed to a plan that will keep global climate goals within reach.

“Our credibility is beyond reproach in this regard,” said Kerry.

The US climate goals are among the most ambitious to come to the United Nations and do not meet the commitments of the European Union and the United Kingdom. But unlike the US, their goals are already enshrined in law.

The US isn’t the only one making its way forward. Various studies show that even if every country meets its current climate commitments, the world is still on the way to exceeding 2 degrees Celsius – the upper end of the Paris Agreement target.

Kerry accepted the challenge.

“Of course we have to reduce emissions faster. That’s the key, ”said Kerry. “And let’s see what we can get out of Glasgow before we pass judgment and you will be able to see who is reducing these emissions and who is not.”