CBO analyzes proposed policies for limiting damage resulting from pollution that affects the atmosphere, land, and water resources. Of particular concern to many policymakers are the increasingly large quantities of greenhouse gases, especially carbon dioxide, that are being emitted as a result of human activities, and CBO has studied a range of policies for reducing such emissions.
Climate and Environment
featured work
Effects of a Carbon Tax on the Economy and the EnvironmentMay 2013 - A carbon tax’s effect on the economy depends on how lawmakers would use revenues generated by the tax. The tax would help reduce U.S. emissions but would have only a modest effect on the Earth’s climate without a worldwide effort.
Effects of Federal Tax Credits for the Purchase of Electric VehiclesSep 2012 - CBO’s report assesses how the credits affect the relative cost of owning an electric vehicle, and how cost-effectively the credits reduce gasoline consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.
Federal Efforts to Reduce the Cost of Capturing and Storing Carbon DioxideJune 2012 - Capturing and storing carbon dioxide is a much-discussed option for reducing the nation’s greenhouse gas emissions while preserving its ability to produce electricity at coal-fired power plants.
Energy Security in the United StatesMay 2012 - Improving energy security—the ability of U.S. households and businesses to accommodate disruptions of supply in energy markets—requires considering policies related to the nation’s supply of and demand for oil.
latest work
H.R. 2850, EPA Hydraulic Fracturing Study Improvement Act of 2013
cost estimateAugust 30, 2013S. 376, Drought Information Act of 2013
cost estimateSeptember 5, 2013H.R. 2318, Federal Facility Accountability Act of 2013
cost estimateJuly 10, 2013H.R. 2226, Federal and State Partnership for Environmental Protection Act of 2013
cost estimateJuly 10, 2013CBO Discusses the Effects of Tax Credits for Electric Vehicles at Energy Conference
blog postJune 24, 2013Effects of Tax Credits for Electric Vehicles
presentationJune 24, 2013Effects of a Carbon Tax on the Economy and the Environment
reportMay 22, 2013CBO Testifies on Federal Financial Support for Fuels and Energy Technologies
blog postMarch 13, 2013
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