Climate Change

DOE’s Office of Policy and International Affairs directs a number of Presidential initiatives to address climate change.

On February 14, 2002, the President charged DOE and other agencies with improving the current voluntary emission reduction registration program under section 1605(b) of the 1992 Energy Policy Act. DOE is currently leading an interagency process—with stakeholder involvement—to enhance the accuracy, reliability, and verifiability of emissions and emissions reductions data reported to DOE.

The “Climate VISION” (Voluntary Innovative Sector Initiatives: Opportunities Now) program, a Presidential initiative launched by DOE in February 2003, is a voluntary public-private partnership designed to pursue cost-effective strategies to reduce the growth of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, especially by energy-intensive industries.  Through work with trade associations and other groups, the program assists industry in its efforts to accelerate the transition to practices, energy technologies, and improved processes that are cleaner, more efficient, and more capable of capturing or sequestering GHGs.  Climate VISION links these objectives with technology development, commercialization, and commercial implementation activities supported by the private sector and the government, including DOE and other participating agencies.  Since Climate VISION was launched, business associations representing 14 industry sectors and the Business Roundtable have become program partners with the federal government.

The President also has established a Cabinet-level Committee on Climate Change Science and Technology Integration (CCCSTI), alternately chaired by the Secretaries of Energy and Commerce. The functions of the CCCSTI are to provide recommendations on climate science and technology to the President; address related Federal R&D funding issues; and coordinate with the Office of Management and Budget on the Committee’s recommendations. The Climate Change Technology Program (CCTP), is the technology subgroup within the CCCSTI.  Led by DOE, the CCTP focuses on research and development of energy and sequestration technologies critical to long-term emissions reduction.

DOE also conducts a broad range of research and development programs connected to climate change.   DOE’s Office of Fossil Energy is pursuing two major strategies to reduce carbon emissions that contribute to global climate change concerns:  (1) Making fossil energy systems more efficient, and (2) capturing and sequestering greenhouse gases.  The first approach focuses on innovative technologies that boost the fuel-to-energy efficiencies of both coal- and natural gas-fired power plants.  More efficient plants use less fuel to generate electric power, and thus release correspondingly fewer greenhouse gas emissions.  The second approach might one day virtually eliminate concerns over emissions of greenhouse gases from fossil energy systems.  Carbon capture and sequestration systems could store, convert, or recycle greenhouse gases, preventing them from building up the atmosphere.

Because nuclear power plants do not burn fossil fuels, they do not emit substances that harm air quality and may cause climate change.  By substituting for fossil fuels in electricity production, nuclear energy has significantly reduced U.S. and global emissions of carbon dioxide, the chief greenhouse gas, and other pollutants.  Program activities of the Office of Nuclear Energy, Science and Technology are aimed at helping the Nation meet the President’s objective of reducing U.S.greenhouse gas intensity by 18 percent over the next 10 years through the development and deployment of new nuclear generating capacity.

The Department believes that the future energy picture of the United States can and should include a large role for hydrogen.  Hydrogen will make it possible for this Nation to realize a primary objective of the President’s National Energy Policy– to enhance U.S. energy independence and security while making significant improvements in environmental quality.  DOE’s Office of Nuclear Energy, Science and Technology is working on what may prove to be an important answer - nuclear energy-produced hydrogen.  With its new Nuclear Hydrogen Initiative, DOE will develop technologies to generate hydrogen on a commercial scale in an economic and environmentally friendly manner.

For data related to climate change, you can also visit the Energy Information Administration.