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Consensus is growing among scientists, policy makers, and business leaders
that concerted action will be needed to address rising greenhouse gas (GHG)
emissions in the United States. The discussion is now turning to the practical
challenges of where and how emissions reductions can best be achieved, at what
costs, and over what periods of time.
The central conclusion
The United States could reduce GHG emissions in 2030 by 3.0 to 4.5 gigatons of CO2e using tested
approaches and high-potential emerging technologies. These reductions would
involve pursuing a wide array of abatement options with marginal costs less than
$50 per ton, with the average net cost to the economy being far lower if the
nation can capture sizable gains from energy efficiency. Achieving these
reductions at the lowest cost to the economy, however, will require strong,
coordinated, economy-wide action that begins in the near future.
Project
methodology overview
Starting in early 2007, a research team from
McKinsey worked with leading companies, industry experts, academics, and
environmental NGOs to develop a detailed, consistent fact base estimating costs
and potentials of different options to reduce or prevent GHG emissions within
the U.S. through 2030. The team analyzed more than 250 options, encompassing
efficiency gains, shifts to lower-carbon energy sources, and expanded carbon
sinks.
Read the executive summary (PDF - 460 KB) 
Read the full report (PDF - 4.11 MB)
Launch the video presentation
Launch the slideshow (PDF - 7 MB)
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