Explore why climate pledges often fall short: how elections, energy security, lobbying, and global inequality shape climate policy—and what’s actually moving the needle.

Robbie Orvis, senior director for modeling at the think tank Energy Innovation, said he expects energy affordability to be the major issue of the year. He pointed to the rising wholesale price of natural gas and how that is likely to translate into higher utility bills, since gas is the country’s leading fuel for power plants and home heating.