About Solutions

The causes of anthropogenic climate change are broad and often difficult to address.  There is no single solution to this complex problem, but numerous opportunities exist for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.  Accordingly, the Solutions program at the Pew Center strives to identify, research, and promote innovative solutions in the effort to address climate change.  The Solutions program works to accomplish this objective through multiple approaches:

Solution Series

The Solutions publications series [1] provides individuals and organizations with practical tools to evaluate and reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.  Recent reports have examined opportunities for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector in the U.S. and developing countries, discussed future U.S. energy scenarios, described the emerging greenhouse gas market, and provided an overview of state-level approaches to climate change. 

Solutions Outreach

Working with policy-makers and the BELC companies, and using the results of research coordinated by the Solutions program, the Pew Center seeks to educate decision-makers about cost-effective solutions to climate change.  This includes informal meetings and informational exchanges, formal corporate and governmental briefings, and solution-oriented workshops for stakeholders hosted by the Pew Center.  The Solutions program’s outreach activities also include facilitating workshops for those actively involved in reducing greenhouse gas emissions to enable information sharing and the review of best practices.  Past workshop have included working with BELC members on the setting of corporate greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets, and with state officials on programs that reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

State-level Activities Database [2]

In an effort to increase the amount of relevant information available to state and local government officials, as well as citizens, the Solutions program maintains a searchable, web-based database that contains case studies of state and local programs that produce greenhouse gas emissions reductions.