The historic global agreement signed by nearly 200 nations at COP21 in Paris in November 2015 was a critical step forward on climate change. But we need ambitious action on clean energy to meet our climate goals, starting with greatly accelerated investment in innovation. Learn more about our plan to secure a better, safer future.
Addressing the effects of climate change is a top priority of the Energy Department. As global temperature rise, wildfires, drought and high electricity demand put stress on the nation’s energy infrastructure. And severe weather -- the leading cause of power outages and fuel supply disruption in the United States -- is projected to worsen, with eight of the 10 most destructive hurricanes of all time having happened in the last 10 years.
To fight climate change, the Energy Department supports research and innovation that makes fossil energy technologies cleaner and less harmful to the people and the environment. We’re taking responsible steps to cut carbon pollution, develop domestic renewable energy production and win the global race for clean energy innovation. We’re also working to dramatically increase the efficiency of appliances, homes, businesses and vehicles -- all in support of the President’s Climate Action Plan.
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At COP21 in Paris and beyond, clean energy innovation is key to solving climate change.
In Episode 2 of Direct Current, we call a "help desk" that provides clean energy policy assistance to governments worldwide, talk to Nicky Phear, a professor that cycles across Montana teaching students about climate change, and propose a few new units of energy, starting with a burrito.
President Obama joins world leaders in announcing “Mission Innovation,” an initiative to dramatically accelerate global clean energy innovation to address climate change.
Explore the regional climate change vulnerabilities to the U.S. energy sector and examples of resilient solutions by clicking on each shaded area in the map or by reading the full report.
The Energy Department is part of the global effort to scale back the use of refrigerants thousands of times more potent than CO2.
