Markey calls on US to ‘square up’ to climate promises after COP28 

With a historic climate consensus coming out of this year’s U.N. Climate Change Conference (COP28), Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) called on the United States to commit to its climate promises Thursday morning at The Hill’s “Enhancing Energy Efficiency: How Technology is Cutting Carbon Emissions” event, sponsored by Samsung Electronics America.  

Markey called the U.S. out for its hypocrisy in the climate and energy space due to its reliance on oil and fossil fuels, saying, “You can’t teach temperance from a barstool.” 

“We have to square up what we say we want to do with what we’re actually doing,” Markey said. 

The Hill’s editor in chief, Bob Cusack, and Joe Ruffolo, senior vice president and general manager, moderated the event.   

Lawmakers like Markey and Rep. Tim Walberg (R-Mich.) were on the panel, along with other policy leaders such as Maryland Energy Administration Director Paul Pinsky; Rose Stephens-Booker, state mobilization director for Building Decarbonization Coalition; Jamal Lewis, state and local policy director for the mid-Atlantic and South at Rewiring America; and Carla Frisch, principal deputy director for the Department of Energy’s policy office.  

Thought leaders on the panel also included Samsung Electronics America corporate sustainability head Mark Newton; Alliance to Save Energy President Paula Glover; and Steven Nadel, executive director at the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE). 

Walberg offered perspective from the GOP, saying climate mandates could affect innovation. 

“I want to leave [the world] better, but I don’t want the mandates. The United States has progressed because of innovation.” 

While Markey said he believes “We’re heading towards an energy revolution,” Walberg said coming to a bipartisan consensus on climate will continue to be a challenge. 

“The challenge is getting to that understanding,” he said. 

Nations committed to transitioning away from fossil fuels and doubling energy efficiency at COP28, but not everyone at Thursday’s event was impressed with the agreement.  

When asked his thoughts on the outcome of the conference, Pinsky, Maryland’s Energy Administration director, responded that he’s, “cautiously optimistic,” though he added he “would have preferred a stronger solution.” 

Others on the panel were more optimistic about the results and their implications for the future. 

“Overall, the sentiment is one of progress,” said Frisch, who attended the conference from the Department of Energy.  

With the Biden administration’s focus on climate policy, Frisch said the U.S. had much more to show this year than it has in previous years at the conference. 

“For years, [global powers have] been telling us to take action, and here we are with a historic level of action from the U.S.,” she said. 

Panelists also encouraged Americans to do their part in upholding the nation’s climate promises. 

With rebates and funds for climate friendly home initiatives like improving insulation built into the Inflation Reduction Act, Frisch said, “Energy efficiency is a direct opportunity for all of us.”  

Markey agreed, saying, “The incentives are there for families to purchase the most energy efficient appliances,” referencing tax benefit incentives for purchasing products like fully electric vehicles.