The Office of Policy and International Affairs directs a number of Presidential initiatives to address climate change.

By partnering with other agencies Energy is working to improve the current voluntary emission reduction registration program under section 1605(b) of the 1992 Energy Policy Act.

The “Climate VISION” (Voluntary Innovative Sector Initiatives: Opportunities Now) program is a voluntary public-private partnership designed to pursue cost-effective strategies to reduce the growth of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.  The Climate VISION program links these objectives with technology development, commercialization, and commercial implementation activities supported by the private sector and the government.

The Committee on Climate Change Science and Technology Integration (CCCSTI), alternately chaired by the Secretaries of Energy and Commerce provide recommendations on climate science and technology to the President; address related Federal R&D funding issues; and coordinates with the Office of Management and Budget on the Committee’s recommendations. The Climate Change Technology Program (CCTP), is the technology subgroup within the CCCSTI.  Led by Energy, the CCTP focuses on research and development of energy and sequestration technologies critical to long-term emissions reduction.

The Office of Fossil Energy is pursuing two major strategies to reduce carbon emissions that contribute to global climate change concerns:  (1) Making fossil energy systems more efficient, and (2) capturing and sequestering greenhouse gases.  The first approach focuses on innovative technologies that boost the fuel-to-energy efficiencies of both coal- and natural gas-fired power plants.  The second approach might one day virtually eliminate concerns over emissions of greenhouse gases from fossil energy systems.  Carbon capture and sequestration systems could store, convert, or recycle greenhouse gases, preventing them from building up the atmosphere.

By substituting for fossil fuels in electricity production, nuclear energy has significantly reduced U.S. and global emissions of carbon dioxide, the chief greenhouse gas, and other pollutants because nuclear power plants do not emit substances that harm air quality that cause climate change.  .  Program activities of the Office of Nuclear Energy, Science and Technology are aimed at reducing U.S.greenhouse gas intensity by 18 percent over the next 10 years through the development and deployment of new nuclear generating capacity.

For data related to climate change, you can also visit the Energy Information Administration.