Key Issues > Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions
environment icon, source: Art Explosion

Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Various federal programs and international agreements are in place to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. These federal programs are generally designed to promote emissions reductions technologies in the energy and transportation sectors. In addition, Congress may consider taking action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the future.

  1. Share with Facebook 
  2. Share with Twitter 
  3. Share with LinkedIn 
  4. Share with mail 

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the primary sources of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions by economic sector in 2013 were electricity production (31 percent), transportation (27 percent), and industry (21 percent). The remaining 21 percent of 2013 U.S. greenhouse gas emissions were contributed by the agriculture, commercial, and residential sectors. A number of programs aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions have been proposed or enacted in the United States and other developed countries, including:

  • carbon taxes,
  • cap-and-trade programs,
  • carbon offsets,
  • energy efficiency standards,
  • financial incentives (e.g., subsidies or tax credits),
  • voluntary agreements,
  • education campaigns, and
  • research, development and deployment of advanced technologies.

Table 1 shows options for addressing climate change.

Table 1: Selected Policies, Measures, and Instruments Used by Various Nations to Reduce Emissions and Address Climate Change, as of 2008

Selected Policies, Measures, and Instruments Currently Used by Various Nations to Address Climate Change

In addition, technologies such as carbon capture and storage and biofuels production have the potential to supplement policies designed to reduce emissions. Carbon capture and storage involves separating and storing carbon dioxide from an industrial or energy-related source, and preventing the release of carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere. The figure below illustrates potential technologies for capturing and storing carbon dioxide emissions.

 

Figure 1: CO2 Capture, Transport, and Storage in Geologic Formations

CO2 Capture, Transport, and Storage in Geologic Formations

 

Looking for our recommendations? Click on any report to find each associated recommendation and its current implementation status.
U.S.-China Cooperation: Bilateral Clean Energy Programs Show Some Results but Should Enhance Their Performance Monitoring
http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-16-669

GAO-16-669: Published: Jul 5, 2016. Publicly Released: Jul 5, 2016.
Climate Change Issues: Options for Addressing Challenges to Carbon Offset Quality
http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-345

GAO-11-345: Published: Feb 15, 2011. Publicly Released: Mar 17, 2011.
Coal Power Plants: Opportunities Exist for DOE to Provide Better Information on the Maturity of Key Technologies to Reduce Carbon Dioxide Emissions
http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-10-675

GAO-10-675: Published: Jun 16, 2010. Publicly Released: Jul 16, 2010.
Aviation and Climate Change: Aircraft Emissions Expected to Grow, but Technological and Operational Improvements and Government Policies Can Help Control Emissions
http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-09-554

GAO-09-554: Published: Jun 8, 2009. Publicly Released: Jun 8, 2009.
International Climate Change Programs: Lessons Learned from the European Union's Emissions Trading Scheme and the Kyoto Protocol's Clean Development Mechanism
http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-09-151

GAO-09-151: Published: Nov 18, 2008. Publicly Released: Dec 2, 2008.
Climate Change: Federal Actions Will Greatly Affect the Viability of Carbon Capture and Storage As a Key Mitigation Option
http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-08-1080

GAO-08-1080: Published: Sep 30, 2008. Publicly Released: Sep 30, 2008.

More Reports

Air Emissions and Electricity Generation at U.S. Power Plants
http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-545R

GAO-12-545R: Published: Apr 18, 2012. Publicly Released: May 18, 2012.
Climate Change: The Quality, Comparability, and Review of Emissions Inventories Vary Between Developed and Developing Nations
http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-10-818

GAO-10-818: Published: Jul 30, 2010. Publicly Released: Aug 5, 2010.
Climate Change: Observations on Options for Selling Emissions Allowances in a Cap-and-Trade Program
http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-10-377

GAO-10-377: Published: Feb 24, 2010. Publicly Released: Mar 26, 2010.
Climate Change Policy: Preliminary Observations on Options for Distributing Emissions Allowances and Revenue under a Cap-and-Trade Program
http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-09-950T

GAO-09-950T: Published: Aug 4, 2009. Publicly Released: Aug 4, 2009.
There are no other materials currently linked to this content
  • portrait of Alfredo Gomez
    • Alfredo Gomez
    • Director, Natural Resources and Environment
    • gomezj@gao.gov
    • 202-512-3841
  • portrait of Frank Rusco
    • Frank Rusco
    • Director, Natural Resources and Environment
    • ruscof@gao.gov
    • 202-512-3841
  • portrait of Tim Persons, Ph.D
    • Tim Persons, Ph.D
    • Chief Scientist, Applied Research and Methods
    • personst@gao.gov
    • 202-512-3000