Evaluating the Energy Security Implications of a Carbon-Constrained U.S. Economy

Technology plays an important role in determining how energy is produced, delivered, and consumed. In the future, it is expected to play an equally important role in enabling society to secure its energy system while reducing emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs). But it is unclear what mix of technologies holds the greatest promise for simultaneously addressing climate change and energy security.

In this paper, the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and the World Resources Institute (WRI) examine eight scenarios for technological development and energy use in the United States in 2035. All envision limiting the atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2) to 450 parts per million (ppm).