This chart is based on WRI’s recent analysis of potential greenhouse gas emissions reductions under existing federal authorities and state actions through 2030.

The three potential reduction scenarios analyzed include a "Lackluster" scenario that aggregates reductions at the lower end of what is technically feasible and therefore represents low regulatory ambition; a "Middle-of-the-Road" scenario that combines reductions generally in the middle of the range considered technically feasible and corresponding to moderate regulatory ambition; and a "Go-Getter" scenario that adds up reductions that may be considered toward the higher end of what is technically feasible and corresponds to higher regulatory ambition.

On the federal level, whether reductions are achieved at the lower end or upper end of the range shown in the figure depends on the extent to which the Obama Administration and subsequent administrations use existing regulatory authority to go after reductions shown to be technically possible in the literature.