Using 100% renewable energy means meeting all energy needs, such as electricity, heating, cooling, and transportation, with resources that can be naturally replenished. This goal is driven by concerns about greenhouse gas emissions, pollution, environmental harm, and issues related to energy security and economic stability. Changing the global energy system to rely fully on renewable sources is necessary because most current energy comes from non-renewable fossil fuels.
A Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) is a rule that requires more electricity to be made from renewable energy sources, such as wind, solar, biomass, and geothermal. This rule is also called the Renewable Electricity Standard (RES) in the United States and the Renewables Obligation in the United Kingdom. The RPS rule requires electricity companies to produce a certain amount of their electricity from renewable energy.
A Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) is a rule that requires more electricity to be produced from renewable energy sources, such as wind, solar, biomass, and geothermal. This rule is also called a Renewable Electricity Standard (RES) in the United States and a Renewables Obligation in the United Kingdom. The RPS system requires electricity companies to generate a certain amount of their electricity from renewable energy.
The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI, pronounced “Reggie”) is the first required program in the United States that uses market methods to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. RGGI is a partnership among the states of Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Virginia. These states work together to set a limit on carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions from power plants and then reduce those emissions over time.
California is the most populous state in the United States. Its climate policies affect global climate change and federal climate policies. Following the advice of climate scientists, California has passed laws to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The European Union Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) is a program that helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the European Union. It started in 2005 and uses a system called “cap and trade.” This system sets a limit on how much pollution certain industries can produce. Companies that pollute must buy permits, called allowances, to cover their emissions.
The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), also called the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), is a United States federal law passed by the 117th Congress and signed into law by President Joe Biden on November 15, 2021. It was first introduced in the House of Representatives as the INVEST in America Act and was sometimes called the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill. The law originally included plans for $547–715 billion to support transportation, highways, transit, safety, and other programs managed by the Department of Transportation.
The European Green Deal, approved in 2020, is a plan created by the European Commission to help the European Union (EU) become climate neutral by 2050. This means the EU will not produce any net greenhouse gases by that year. The plan includes reviewing current laws to see how well they help the environment, and creating new rules about recycling, improving buildings, protecting nature, farming, and innovation.
The EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM, pronounced /ˈsiːbæm/) is a tax on products that release a lot of carbon dioxide, such as steel, cement, and some electricity, when they are brought into the European Union. It was created as part of the European Green Deal and started in 2026. Companies began reporting information about their carbon emissions in 2023.
True Cost Accounting (TCA) is a method that helps measure and value the hidden effects of economic activities on the environment, society, and health. TCA is also called full cost accounting (FCA) or “multiple capital accounting (MCA).” This method looks at more than just money to help businesses and governments make better choices. It considers four types of capital: natural, human, social, and produced.