Top 10 State and Local Environmental Solutions

2. Set a CO2 reduction goal. State and local governments can set carbon dioxide reduction goals and laws, which have several beneficial effects: the reductions can slow the process of global climate change, can save money by conserving energy, and can create new ways for state and local industries to make money from new technology.

Why a CO2 reduction goal is a federalism issue:
Significance:
Carbon dioxide is the principle contributor to global warming, the gradual increase in the earth's average temperature that has accelerated over the past twenty years. Global warming could lead to a range of catastrophic effects in the United States, from the loss of coastlines (and the homes and businesses nearby) because of higher sea levels, increased smog and smog-induced asthma attacks because heat reacts with air pollutants to create smog, and even higher deaths among vulnerable populations because of longer, more intense heat waves. One way to reduce carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere is to cut down on the burning of fossil fuels or to find ways to "sequester" or store carbon dioxide so that it doesn't reach the atmosphere.

State and local role:
State and local governments have been tremendously active and innovative in this area, truly acting as laboratories of democracy. Eight states--Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland New Hampshire, New Jersey, and New York--participate in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI). The RGGI has developed a regional cap-and-trade scheme for these states, much like the international Kyoto CO2 reduction treaty seeks to implement an international cap-and-trade scheme. On December 20, 2005, the RGGI states agreed to stabilize CO2 emissions at present levels by 2009, and reduce CO2 emissions by 10% by 2019. More details about the agreement and the mechanics of its implementation are available here. Press articles about the agreement and similar efforts by other state coalitions are available here and here.  An article announcing the newest signatory to the agreement, Maryland, is here.

California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has pledged that the state will reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 11 percent in the next five years, by 25 percent in the next 15 years, and by more than 80 percent by 2050. The draft plan implementing these reductions, along with other information, is available here. California has passed a law and regulations to limit greenhouse gas emissions from cars and trucks (see item 1 on the Redefining Federalism Top 10 List). According to a report by the Hewlett Foundation, California's existing energy efficiency standards and other greenhouse gas reduction efforts resulted in $56 billion in savings to businesses and consumers, or measured another way, savings of $875 to $1300 per person between 1975 and 1995. Two other reports, from the Center for Clean Air Policy and the Berkeley Climate Change Center, say that California's emissions cuts will create jobs and provide a significant boost to California's economy--directly contradicting industry claims.

Washington has passed a law requiring power plants to lower their CO2 emissions, which was modeled on Oregon's similar plan. (See here for more details on climate change strategies in Oregon). The governors of these states have formed the West Coast Governor's Global Warming Initiative to consider additional ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote renewable energy on the West Coast.

Legislators and public interest groups in the Northern Plains states, including North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, and Wisconsin, have created a regional initiative to investigate a regional cap-and-trade program, but also to consider how farmers in their states can use agricultural practices to sequester carbon dioxide in the soil, and perhaps even market their CO2 storage ability to companies that need CO2 reduction credits.

Local governments, too, can make significant CO2 reductions, which will also save them money. Portland, Oregon, was the first U.S. city to set a carbon dioxide reduction target, and it has created a long-term emissions reduction plan. Salt Lake City has cut its CO2 emissions by thousands of tons since 2002 by using energy efficient traffic signal bulbs, buying wind power, and using 3-wheeled vehicles, rather than cars, for parking enforcement. (See a power point presentation by Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson here). Minneapolis has taken similar steps and has dropped its greenhouse gas emissions by 15 percent since 1995. Cleveland has hired a sustainability programs manager who focuses on ways to use environmental initiatives--many of which cut down on CO2--to cut city costs.

The mayor of Seattle, Greg Nickels, has started a coalition of green cities that have committed to reducing their contributions to global warming. More than 150 U.S. mayors have pledged to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in their cities. Recently, Mayor Nickels' "Climate Protection Agreement" won the endorsement of the US Conference of Mayors.

Federal Role:
State and local governments are trying to fill the void in this area left by the federal government, which has declined to join the Kyoto treaty. While state and local carbon reductions help, they are no substitute for a national commitment to CO2 reductions. Opponents of the Kyoto treaty, which commits industrialized nations to reduce their CO2 emissions, have said, among other things, that the compliance costs for U.S. businesses and therefore consumers would simply be too high, and harm the U.S. economy. The experiments in CO2 reduction in states and cities across the U.S. create an opportunity to test that claim. Moreover, governments can determine which reduction strategies are most effective and most efficient by looking at the various options other states or cities are using.

Critical resources:
The International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives has a wealth of background material and information on other local government initiatives on climate change.

Both the Progressive Policy Institute and the Pew Center on Global Climate Change have excellent reports on state and local greenhouse gas reduction plans. PPI's report on state and local activities is here and its report on "Carbon Cash Crop" initiatives for carbon sequestration in agricultural states is here.

The Pew report is here. The Pew Center's searchable database on climate change initiatives is here.

The National Conference of State Legislatures' air quality database contains information on carbon sequestration and greenhouse gas legislation that has been introduced in state legislatures during the last two sessions.

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If you know of other state and local governments pursuing similar policies, or different policies to reach the same goal, please let us know by sending an email to redefiningfederalism@communityrights.org.

To read about how federalism concerns are playing out in the debate about policy responses to global warming, please visit our blog, www.warminglaw.com

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