Louisiana targets net zero emissions by - Smart Energy Decisions

GHG Emissions  -  August 24, 2020

Louisiana targets net zero emissions by 2050

Gov. John Bel Edwards of Louisiana signed an executive order Aug. 19 that commits the state to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.

The order establishes interim goals, including a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 26-28% by 2025 and 40-50% by 2030. In the order, Gov. Edwards establishes Louisiana’s first Climate Initiative Task Force to study and make recommendations to reduce emissions economy-wide.

“By coupling these new efforts to build resilience and address greenhouse gas emissions with our world class coastal protection and restoration program, we believe we can even more successfully confront the difficulties in store in the future and seize new opportunities to transform ourselves into a more equitable, prosperous, and sustainable state,” Gov. Edwards said in a statement.

Reducing greenhouse gas emissions and the effects of climate change is particularly pertinent to Louisiana, a state that feels the effects of global warming and rising sea levels at an increased level. The Climate Initiatives Task Force will be responsible for developing strategies to reduce the state’s greenhouse gas emissions based on input from the scientific community, state government, private sector and civil society. Some initial opportunities identified include the use of carbon capture and underground storage by deploying new technologies and natural restoration systems like wetlands.

“Louisiana has many industrial sources of carbon, which means a great potential demand for carbon management strategies, and also has deep, well-confined geologic storage options in close proximity to that industrial base, as well as some history of putting carbon to use in such operations as enhanced oil recovery,” said Thomas Harris, Louisiana Department of Natural Resources Secretary. “These factors provide a unique opportunity for our state to be both a proving ground and a leader in applying strategies that can help lessen the climate impacts of carbon in the future.”

Tags: Louisiana

« Back to Energy Management

  • LinkedIn
  • Subscribe

Smart Energy Decisions Content Partners