The latest edition of the Rhodium Group's "Taking Stock" report accounts for the uncertainties of Covid-19 recovery while charting the trends in U.S. greenhouse gas emissions.

Rhodium Group recently published the latest edition on annual outlook for U.S. greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions under current federal and state policies.
"This current policy baseline provides a starting point for assessing where additional work—in the form of federal, state, or corporate action—is necessary to achieve mid- and long-term US GHG emission reduction goals," according to an article that shares the new report.
In a bit of positive news that might surprise, the country is on track to reduce GHG emissions 20 percent to 22 percent below 2005 levels by the year 2025. "Looking ahead to 2030, the US is on track to achieve emission reductions anywhere from 20% to 26% below 2005 levels, absent additional action," adds the article.
The report accounts for uncertainties surrounding the country's ongoing, uneven recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic. Given that uncertainty, the final tally in 2030 could range anywhere from 17 percent to 30 percent reductions from 2005 levels, according to the report.
Rhodium Group's ClimateDeck data platform includes baseline scenarios—including GHG emissions and underlying sectoral data—for the nation and all 50 U.S. states. The source article below also includes trend data for economic sectors like energy production, transportation, industry, and buildings.
Here are the two brief summaries, with more detail included in the source article, of the predicted emission trends in two of the sectors with most direct relevance to the nations planners:
- Transportation: "After a brief post-pandemic rebound, transportation emissions decline modestly through 2030, driven by fuel economy improvements in passenger vehicles and a shift toward electric vehicles (EVs)."
- Buildings: "Building efficiency improves but emissions from residential and commercial buildings remain effectively flat. Low-cost natural gas, increasing building square footage, and economic and population growth put upward pressure on building emissions, even while state policies make homes and businesses more efficient."
FULL STORY: Taking Stock 2021: US Emissions Outlook Under Current Policy

The Right to Mobility
As we consider how to decarbonize transportation, preserving mobility, especially for lower- and middle-income people, must be a priority.

Early Sharrow Booster: ‘I Was Wrong’
The lane marking was meant to raise awareness and instill shared respect among drivers and cyclists. But their inefficiency has led supporters to denounce sharrows, pushing instead for more robust bike infrastructure that truly protects riders.

Push and Pull: The Link Between Walkability and Affordability
The increased demand for walkable urban spaces could make them more and more exclusionary if cities don’t pursue policies to limit displacement and boost affordability.

U.S. Transit Agencies Face a Financial Crisis
Transit providers around the country are scrambling to find new sources of revenue to replace lagging ridership and reorienting their systems to a future less dependent on daily commuters.

California Rejects Six-State Colorado River Plan, Proposes Its Own
State officials claim a proposal agreed upon by the other six states using Colorado River water disproportionately impacts California farmers.

Washington Focuses Road Safety Efforts on Individuals, Neglecting Design
Legislative efforts to reduce traffic deaths could move the needle toward Vision Zero, but state leaders failed to commit infrastructure funds to making structural improvements.
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
York County Government
York County, Human Resources
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Sonoma County Transportation Authority
City of Piedmont, CA
City of Morganton
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.