Emerging U.S. Climate Policy: Where We are and How We Got Here

Colorado College Working Paper 2009-04

11 Pages Posted: 31 Jul 2009

See all articles by Geoffrey Clemm

Geoffrey Clemm

Colorado College - Department of Economics and Business

Mark Griffin Smith

Colorado College - Department of Economics and Business

Date Written: April 2009

Abstract

After eight years of non-engagement, the new administration and the U.S. Congress, led by a majority in the President’s party, are rapidly developing climate policy legislation. This paper summarizes past efforts to establish a national climate policy in the United States as well as the major forces influencing the current debate. While this debate is largely shaped by domestic considerations, it takes place as the international community moves to agree on a post-Kyoto policy regime in Copenhagen next December. Whether the United States is willing to take strong action will significantly influence the actions of other nations.

N.B. This paper is being submitted in the midst of a dynamic legislative process. It ends with what the authors know now, but much will happen in the next three months. We will continue to follow these developments closely as to present the workshop with the most up-to-date account of legislative activity in the United States.

Keywords: climate, Copenhagen, emissions, environment

JEL Classification: H4, H5, Q2, Q3, Q4

Suggested Citation

Clemm, Geoffrey and Smith, Mark Griffin, Emerging U.S. Climate Policy: Where We are and How We Got Here (April 2009). Colorado College Working Paper 2009-04, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1440339 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1440339

Geoffrey Clemm

Colorado College - Department of Economics and Business ( email )

14 E Cache La Poudre Street
Colorado Springs, CO 80903
United States

Mark Griffin Smith (Contact Author)

Colorado College - Department of Economics and Business ( email )

14 E Cache La Poudre Street
Colorado Springs, CO 80903
United States

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