A Transformative Climate Action Framework

The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) and an expert advisory committee released a report that confirms that the US can and must meet its climate goals by sharply phasing down fossil fuels throughout the economy by ramping up clean energy solutions such as renewable energy, energy efficiency, and widespread electrification. To secure that clean energy transition, the report says, it is critical that we confront the racial and economic inequities inherent in our present energy system. Chief among them: fossil fuel pollution that disproportionately harms marginalized communities, many of whom have also had limited access to the benefits of clean energy and have been excluded from decisionmaking processes. Fossil fuel-dependent workers and communities that are hurt by the transition away from these fuels must also be treated fairly and receive robust support.

We can—and must—seize the opportunity to enact transformative policies and make investments that not only deliver science-based carbon emissions reductions but also ensure that the benefits are accessible and shared equitably among all communities. This report offers a framework to help guide our transition to that clean, just, and resilient economy.