"The 117th Congress has considered a variety of policies and legislation intended to help
mitigate greenhouse gas (GHG)1
emissions associated with climate change, and to address
adaptation and resilience to impacts from climate change.
Enacted laws in the 117th Congress addressing GHG mitigation have included P.L. 117-169,
commonly known as the “Inflation Reduction Act of 2022” (IRA), and the Infrastructure
Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA; P.L. 117-58). Provisions in these acts authorize and provide
funding and financial incentives for programs and policies likely to directly or indirectly reduce
GHG emissions. Other provisions in these acts may lead to increased GHG emissions in
particular contexts. In addition, litigation challenging executive branch actions, including the
recent Supreme Court decision that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency had exceeded its
authority in promulgating a regulation, have raised questions about the extent of agencies’
authorities to mitigate GHG emissions.
2 Other decisions may clarify authorities to regulate GHG
emissions. To help provide context for considering legislative proposals and questions about
executive authorities, this report compiles a selection of CRS products on GHG-related policy,
enacted and proposed legislation, executive branch actions, and programs for GHG mitigation..."
Greenhouse Gas
Wednesday, September 28, 2022
Greenhouse Gas Mitigation: CRS Products
Wednesday, July 20, 2022
Market-Based Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction Legislation: 108th Through 117th Congresses
"Congressional interest in market-based greenhouse gas (GHG) emission control legislation has
fluctuated over the past 20 years. Market-based approaches that would address GHG emissions
typically involve either a cap-and-trade system or a carbon tax or emissions fee program. Both
approaches would place a price—directly or indirectly—on GHG emissions or their inputs,
namely fossil fuels. Both would increase the price of fossil fuels, and both would reduce GHG emissions to some degree.
Both would allow covered entities to choose the best way to meet their emission requirements or reduce costs, potentially by
using market forces to minimize national costs of emission reductions. Preference between the two approaches ultimately
depends on which variable policymakers prefer to precisely control—emission levels or emission prices
A primary policy concern with either approach is the economic impacts that may result. Expected energy price increases
could have both economy-wide impacts (e.g., on the U.S. gross domestic product) and disproportionate effects on specific
industries and particular demographic groups. The degree of these potential effects would depend on a number of factors,
including the magnitude, design, and scope of the program and the use of tax or fee revenues or emission allowance values.
As the figure below illustrates, between the 108th and 111th Congresses, most of the introduced bills would have established
cap-and-trade systems. Between the 112th and 117th Congresses, most of the introduced bills would have established carbon
tax or emissions fee programs. The proposals ranged in the scope of emissions covered from CO2 emissions from fossil fuel
combustion to multiple GHG emissions from a broader array of sources. In addition, the proposals differed by how, to whom,
and for what purpose the fee revenues or allowance value would be applied. Some economic analyses indicate that policy
choices to distribute the tax, fee, or emission allowance revenue would yield greater economic impacts than the direct
impacts of the carbon price..."
Greenhouse Gas
Tuesday, September 30, 2014
Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program
"On September 30, 2014, EPA’s Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program released its fourth year of emissions data, including information from facilities in 41 source categories. See what GHGRP data shows about U.S. GHG emissions..."
Greenhouse gases
Saturday, June 14, 2014
NOAA ANNUAL GREENHOUSE GAS INDEX
Greenhouse Gas Index
