U.S. Government 2014
The United States is the world’s second largest carbon emitter. If we are going to tackle climate change, the U.S. government must take initiative. Although Congress is not passing many laws, the executive branch of federal agencies is showing a willingness to act. For example, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is regulating power plant emissions, the Department of Energy (DOE) is advancing clean energy technologies, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is increasing vehicle fuel economy.
Washington D.C. think tank Third Way thinks there’s much more that U.S. federal agencies can do to mitigate climate change, particularly agencies besides the DOE. Consider that, as a whole, the U.S.government is the single largest energy user in the country, with the largest fleet of vehicles, the most building space, and by far the most land. With their ability to regulate and their procurement power, federal agencies have a significant opportunity to drive innovation and shift the market, especially in the energy sector. This contest seeks new and innovative actions or internal policies that U.S. federal agencies can implement to mitigate climate change. Click here for contest details.