The Carbon Disclosure Project's (CDP) latest report shows that the trends in US greenhouse gas emissions are not on track to meet President Obama's 2020 reduction target for the United States. According to the report, CDP has evaluated annual information collected from S&P 100 companies for the years 2007-2009 and found that the greenhouse gas emissions will, at their current trajectory, produce a 3.66% absolute increase in emissions by 2020, relative to 2009 levels.
In November, 2009, President Obama committed to a 17% absolute reduction in emissions by 2020, measured against a 2005 baseline. While not yet legally binding, this commitment represents a crucial change in the US position on climate change. On a related note, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has recommended a 80% reduction by 2050.
The CDP is an independent not-for-profit organization holding the largest database of corporate climate change information in the world. A copy of the CDP report addressing current US emissions trends is available at http://www.cdproject.net