Successful initiatives at the local, national and global levels have shown that policy efforts—a combination of strategic incentives, mandates and funding—can accelerate our transition to a more sustainable path for people and nature. The technology and tools to limit climate change already exist: now what’s needed is the political will to bring these solutions to scale—and fast.

Carbon Pricing



Economists across the political spectrum generally agree on the easiest and cheapest way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions—putting a price on carbon. A well-designed carbon tax could be relatively straightforward to administer and would incentivize new technologies that accelerate the transition to cleaner energy. And if swapped for another tax—for example, a reduction in the corporate tax rate—it could even help grow national economies.

Earlier in 2019, Canada became the latest country to implement a national price on carbon, joining nearly 40 other countries that either have a carbon tax or a cap-and-trade model. Great Britain’s initiative shows such policies have great potential: since implementing a carbon tax in 2013, the country has minimized coal power generation and slashed its energy emissions significantly.

Other major emitters, including the United States, are building support for national legislation in both the public and private sectors. The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative has driven energy emissions down 40 percent in the northeast and mid-Atlantic United States, where an approach of similar scale for transportation emissions is gaining traction. There are many ways to frame smart carbon pricing policies, and TNC is committed to helping identify solutions that can garner support in countries and communities around the world.

Clean Energy and Emissions Mandates

Although renewable energy options for obtaining electric power have sparked interest for years, they have often been dismissed as somewhat costly and unpredictable. Because the sun doesn’t always shine, wind doesn’t always blow, and coal and natural gas produced much cheaper and more reliable power, renewables had little market traction.

But it’s a new day, and technology has advanced accordingly. Solar panels and wind turbines now produce more energy more efficiently. Battery technology now permits renewable installations that utilize solar-plus-storage or wind-plus-storage to send electric power to the marketplace at costs that rival fossil fuels—including natural gas. And innovators are continually investigating new potential renewable energy sources to tap, including geothermal and wave action.

The next decade will likely see a reinvention of how we generate, store, transmit and use electric power. But new infrastructure, new business models and new energy services are needed for the global economy to reap the full benefit of these opportunities.

With the success of state-level renewable portfolio standards in the United States, many state governments have recently ramped up their efforts in hopes of achieving emissions reductions in line with international climate goals. These have come in the form of either: 1) new mandates for emissions-free electricity, with a long-term goal of 100 percent; or 2) mandates for driving economy-wide emissions toward net-zero, which would allow for carbon capture and natural climate solutions to play a significant role.