Statehouse and Greenhouse : The Emerging Politics of American Climate Change Policy

Few public policy issues seem as hopeless as global climate change. Mounting evidence shows that accumulating levels of greenhouse gases are already beginning to alter climate patterns, and this only intensifies concerns about long-term dangers. In turn, potential policy remedies appear feckless. Prospects for implementation of the Kyoto Protocol are highly uncertain even among nations that have ratified the accord. At the national level, the United States, which is the leading source of greenhouse gases, remains completely disengaged from the Kyoto process. Increasingly, other developed nations severely criticize the United States for its perceived failure to engage this issue. But a quiet yet growing trend for the state governments to assume a leadership role in reducing greenhouse gases suggests that a far more robust process for American policy development is under way. Conventional analyses assume that climate change can only be addressed by international regimes and national governments. However, many states have developed active multifaceted programmes to address carbon dioxide, methane and other greenhouse gases within a diverse array of policy sectors, including energy, environmental protection, transportation, natural resources and agriculture. In this book, Barry G. Rabe examines this evolving policy process. He devotes particular attention to the factors prompting so many states to take significant steps toward greenhouse gas reduction. These states cut across regions and traditional partisan divides; agency-based policy entrepreneurs appear to be central players in developing policy ideas and forming viable coalitions. Rabe argues that this recent flurry of experience can move the debate over climate change from hyperbole to the realm of what is politically, economically and technically feasible. He also offers alternatives for future policy development. These would build on recent state initiatives and actively engage them in long-term policy formation and implementation. No environmental issue triggers such feelings of hopelessness as global climate change. Many areas of the world, including regions of the United States, have experienced a wide range of unusually dramatic weather events recently. Much climate change analysis forecasts horrors of biblical proportions, such as massive floods, habitat loss, species loss, and epidemics related to warmer weather. Such accounts of impending disaster have helped trigger extreme reactions, wherein some observers simply dismiss global climate change as, at the very worst, a minor inconvenience requiring modest adaptation. It is perhaps no surprise, therefore, that an American federal government known for institutional gridlock has accomplished virtually nothing in this area in the last decade.

Policy inertia is not the story of this book, however. Statehouse and Greenhouse examines the surprising evolution of state-level government policies on global climate change. Environmental policy analyst Barry Rabe details a diverse set of innovative cases, offering detailed analysis of state-level policies designed to combat global warming. The book explains why state innovation in global climate change has been relatively vigorous and why it has drawn so little attention thus far. Rabe draws larger potential lessons from this recent flurry of American experience. Statehouse and Greenhouse helps to move debate over global climate change from bombast to the realm of what is politically and technically feasible.

Author Description:

Barry G. Rabe is a professor of environmental policy in the School of Natural Resources and Environment and professor of public policy in the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy at the University of Michigan. He also directs the university's new Program in Environment. Rabe is the author of two previous Brookings books, When Federalism Works and Beyond NIMBY.

Annotation No environmental issue triggers such feelings of hopelessness as global climate change. Many areas of the world, including regions of the United States, have experienced a wide range of unusually dramatic weather events recently. Much climate change analysis forecasts horrors of biblical proportions, such as massive floods, habitat loss, species loss, and epidemics related to warmer weather. Such accounts of impending disaster have helped trigger extreme reactions, wherein some observers simply dismiss global climate change as, at the very worst, a minor inconvenience requiring modest adaptation. It is perhaps no surprise, therefore, that an American federal government known for institutional gridlock has accomplished virtually nothing in this area in the last decade. Policy inertia is not the story of this book, however. Statehouse and Greenhouse examines the surprising evolution of state-level government policies on global climate change. Environmental policy analyst Barry Rabe details a diverse set of innovative cases, offering detailed analysis of state-level policies designed to combat global warming. The book explains why state innovation in global climate change has been relatively vigorous and why it has drawn so little attention thus far. Rabe draws larger potential lessons from this recent flurry of American experience. Statehouse and Greenhouse helps to move debate over global climate change from bombast to the realm of what is politically and technically feasible " No environmental issue triggers such feelings of hopelessness as global climate change. Many areas of the world, including regions of the United States, have experienced a wide range of unusually dramatic weather events recently. Much climate change analysis forecasts horrors of biblical proportions, such as massive floods, habitat loss, species loss, and epidemics related to warmer weather. Such accounts of impending disaster have helped trigger extreme reactions, wherein some observers simply dismiss global climate change as, at the very worst, a minor inconvenience requiring modest adaptation. It is perhaps no surprise, therefore, that an American federal government known for institutional gridlock has accomplished virtually nothing in this area in the last decade. Policy inertia is not the story of this book, however. Statehouse and Greenhouse examines the surprising evolution of state-level government policies on global climate change. Environmental policy analyst Barry Rabe details a diverse set of innovative cases, offering detailed analysis of state-level policies designed to combat global warming. The book explains why state innovation in global climate change has been relatively vigorous and why it has drawn so little attention thus far. Rabe draws larger potential lessons from this recent flurry of American experience. Statehouse and Greenhouse helps to move debate over global climate change from bombast to the realm of what is politically and technically feasible. " Few Public Policy Issues Seem As Hopeless As Climate Change. A Gridlocked U.s. National Government Has Abandoned The Kyoto Process While Evidence Of Significant Climate Change Mounts. Washington, D.c., Is Not The Only Place Where Public Policy Is Made, However, And Inertia Is Not The Story Of This Book. Many U.s. States Have Developed Innovative Programs To Reduce Their Greenhouse Gas Emissions. Statehouse And Greenhouse Examines This Evolving Policy Process, Considers Where It May Be Heading, And Explores What It Could Mean For Climate Policy As Well As For American Government And Federalism.--jacket. The Politics Of Climate Change, State Style -- The Economics Of Climate Change Policy -- The Mechanics Of Climate Change Policy -- An Unlikely Front-runner In Climate Change Policy. Barry G. Rabe. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 181-199) And Index. The politics of climate change, state style The economics of climate change policy The mechanics of climate change policy An unlikely front-runner in climate change policy Looking ahead to the next generation of climate change policy.