Climate Policy Program
 

About This Program

There is growing scientific consensus that the effects of global warming are bringing us closer to one or more environmental tipping points, and that if these points are passed, the result will be massive economic and environmental displacement worldwide over the next 10 to 20 years. Although more than a hundred nations have signed, ratified, and begun implementation of the Kyoto accord on global warming, there is also broad consensus that without a national program to address greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the United States, the world cannot avoid reaching these critical tipping points.

The United States is home to just 5 percent of the world’s population, but it produces at least 25 percent of human-made greenhouse gases. While several states, cities, and companies have taken significant steps to address global warming on their own, progress has been too slow and piecemeal to overcome the lack of climate action policies in other parts of the nation or at the federal level.

New America’s Climate Policy Program focuses on designing and implementing a national response to climate change by aggregating the action of state and local governments. The 10 most populous U.S. states account for more than 50 percent of the nation’s population, 60 percent of its gross domestic product, and over 60 percent of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. While not all of these states are prepared to embark on a significant climate change program, what these statistics make clear is that by focusing on a few key states we can make significant progress toward reducing greenhouse gas emissions nationally. Furthermore, even in the absence of state programs, some major cities are already taking bold steps to set GHG reduction targets and implement plans to achieve them.

Bottom Up Strategy: State Climate Action

Efforts at the state level are crucial to solving the challenge of global warming for three reasons:

  1. There are significant environmental benefits to be gained from a reduced carbon footprint in states as large as California (which is the world’s sixth largest economy and the twelfth largest emitter of GHGs).
  2. The potential economic benefits are also demonstrable, given the likely creation of new sustainable industries (in the renewable energy sector, for example).
  3. Other nations are more likely to reduce their own GHGs when the United States is seen to be taking action, even when that action is at the subnational rather than the federal level.

Proven Success

In the past few years, governors such as Arnold Schwarzenegger (R-CA) and Janet Napolitano (D-AZ) have worked through the Western Governors and Border Governors associations to recruit more states to develop climate action plans on a bipartisan basis.

Our work with these governors and associations has already produced tangible results, including:

  • California and Arizona have set aggressive Kyoto-style GHG reduction targets and developed climate action plans to achieve those targets. At least 17 other states are following their example.
  • In June 2006, the western states signed an agreement to develop a regional climate action plan; in August 2006 the six Mexican border states agreed to join in this process.
  • In February 2007, California, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, and New Mexico announced the formation of a western regional greenhouse gas trading system to include all sectors of the economy. In the spring of  2007, the Governor of Utah and the Premiers of British Columbia and Manitoba joined the Initiative. Montana joined in January, 2008. Other US and Mexican states and Canadian provinces have joined as observers.

Behind-the-Scenes Ambassadors

New America’s Climate Policy Program adds significant impetus to the efforts of the other nonprofit organizations that are contributing to (or are the actual architects of) state and local climate action plans. While academic and technical organizations can provide climate plans, emissions inventories, and models from other states, the Climate Policy Program staff is uniquely suited to provide:

  • Experience from the “trenches” of climate planning efforts in several states, especially California, now regarded as the gold standard for state climate plans and legislation. The lessons learned can prove invaluable to other states as they embark on comprehensive climate planning.
  • Connections to governors, key legislators, and world leaders to provide advice and political support for new climate planning efforts.
  • Assistance to governors and other state and local leaders and their policy advisors in navigating the complex potential outcomes to adopt a full complement of climate measures and ensure effective implementation.

Looking Forward

The United States must take action on global warming before the end of this decade. In the absence of meaningful federal action to reduce greenhouse gases, the national response must grow from the bottom up, with states and local governments taking action first. By aggregating their efforts, we can make the United States a leader in solving the defining issue of our time.