Energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies have the potential to provide most, if not all, of the U.S. carbon emissions reductions that will be needed to help limit the atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide to 450 to 500 ppm.  According to Hansen, NASA’s top climate scientist, we need to limit the additional average

world temperature rise due to greenhouse gases to 1˚C above the year-2000 level. If we fail, we risk entering an unprecedented warming era that would have disastrous consequences, including rising sea levels and large-scale extinction of species. Limiting temperature rise means limiting the carbon dioxide (CO2) level in the atmosphere to 450 to 500 parts per million (ppm).

What does this mean for the United States? Estimates are that industrialized nations must

reduce emissions about 60% to 80% below today’s values by mid-century. Figure 1 shows

the U.S. reductions that would be needed by 2030 to be on the right path.

Accounting for expected economic growth and associated increases in carbon emissions in a business-asusual (BAU) case, in 2030 we must be displacing between 1,100 and 1,300 million metric tons

Limiting temperature rise means limiting the carbon dioxide (CO2) level in the atmosphere to 450 to 500 parts per million (ppm).

What does this mean for the United States? Estimates are that industrialized nations must

reduce emissions about 60% to 80% below today’s values by mid-century. Figure 1 shows

the U.S. reductions that would be needed by 2030 to be on the right path.

Approximately 57% of the total carbon reduction contribution is from energy efficiency

(EE) and about 43% is from renewables.

Energy efficiency measures can allow U.S. carbon emissions to remain about level

through 2030, whereas the renewable supply technologies can provide large reductions in

carbon emissions below current values.

Link download, "Tackling Climate Change in the U.S.: Potential Carbon Emissions Reduction from Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy by 2030" by the American Solar Energy Society.http://ases.org/images/stories/file/ASES/climate_change.pdf The above graphics and text came this report on Carbon Emissions Reduction for the USA. The report is designed to be readable for non-technical people. The report explains in understandable english what the USA needs to do and what possible using Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy to deal with Climate Change. The principles of RE & EE apply to all countries.