Prioritizing American Interests: A New Strategy for Global Decarbonization

Climate progress has too often been viewed as independent of or in conflict with other national priorities. This has failed to address three important contrasts: first, as domestic emissions fall, global emissions continue to rise. Second, while Americans have an appetite for climate action, for most it falls far behind other priorities like the economy and national security. Finally, our political gridlock on this issue is ceding a $215 trillion market opportunity to our competitors. A more viable U.S. approach to global climate change would address these imbalances by advancing American competitiveness, economic growth, resource security, and geopolitical influence.