24 States About to Set Climate Targets for First Time

A grant program in the Inflation Reduction Act is spurring almost every state to make a climate plan.

As of today, less than half of all states have set forth targets to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. Within two years, almost all of them will have climate goals.

The Inflation Reduction Act has brought billions of dollars in investment and tens of thousands of new jobs in clean energy manufacturing to many states. A program in the IRA called the Climate Pollution Reduction Grants has earmarked $3 million each for all 50 states, to produce a comprehensive climate action plan. States can access the funding simply by opting in. Only South Dakota, Kentucky, Florida, and Iowa have said no.

By taking money, states agee to produce an inventory of their greenhouse gas emissions and a list of actions they might take to reduce them, due to the EPA by March of this year. This is already meaningful, because most states don’t regularly track data about where their emissions come from. The grant requires that in 2025, recipients follow up with a much more details plan that includes projections of future emissions, an analysis of benefits for disadvantaged communities, and workforce planning needs. Their plans also will need to include greenhouse gas reduction goals in line with the Biden administration’s commitment to reduce emissions 50% from 2005 levels by 2030.

For many states the extra funding could go a long way, while some like California and New York already have hundreds of staffers working on emission reduction plans. Now, fiscally constrained state environmental agencies will be able to hire extra staff and consultants. The extra support can also help states develop strategies to unlock further federal funding from dozen of other programs in the IRA.