Developing a Comprehensive Approach to Climate Change Policy in the United States: Integrating Levels of Government and Economic Sectors

43 Pages Posted: 11 Oct 2007 Last revised: 23 Jul 2015

See all articles by John C. Dernbach

John C. Dernbach

Widener University - Commonwealth Law School

Thomas D. Peterson

Center for Climate Strategies

Robert B. McKinstry

Independent

Abstract

The United State Supreme Court's holding in Massachusetts v. EPA that greenhouse gases are air pollutants under the Clean Air Act makes it virtually certain that federal climate change legislation will be accomplished by amending that Act. This Article explains and justifies an approach to federal climate legislation that uses and builds on the Act's various tools, including air quality standards, technology-based limitations, and state implementation plans. The Article discusses models for climate response that have emerged from state responses to date and presents the reductions that could be achieved if these were scaled up to the federal level. Federal legislative proposals to date fail to build upon these state lessons and do not provide adequate mechanisms to support the multi-faceted economy wide approach that can achieve needed reductions in a cost-effective manner. We suggest a mechanism whereby the Clean Air Act could be applied or adapted to incorporate state creativity to support the integrated, economy-wide approach that is needed. This approach could also motivate both the individual action and the international cooperation that are required to address climate change effectively.

Keywords: climate change, Clean Air Act, federalism, legislation, Massachusetts v. EPA, greenhouse gas emissions, states

JEL Classification: H11, H77, K19, K23, O38, Q25, Q28, Q38, Q45, Q01

Suggested Citation

Dernbach, John C. and Peterson, Thomas D. and McKinstry, Robert B., Developing a Comprehensive Approach to Climate Change Policy in the United States: Integrating Levels of Government and Economic Sectors. Virginia Environmental Law Journal, Vol. 26, 2007, Widener Law School Legal Studies Research Paper No. 08-20, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1020740

John C. Dernbach (Contact Author)

Widener University - Commonwealth Law School ( email )

3800 Vartan Way
Harrisburg, PA 17110-9380
United States

Thomas D. Peterson

Center for Climate Strategies ( email )

1899 L Street, NW
Washington, DC 20036
United States
(202) 540-9121 (Phone)

HOME PAGE: http://www.climatestrategies.us

Robert B. McKinstry

Independent ( email )

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