Of Happy Incidents, Climate, Federalism, and Preemption
27 Pages Posted: 19 Sep 2008 Last revised: 2 Oct 2008
Date Written: September 17, 2008
Abstract
This Article examines the shape of things to come in the overlapping realm of federalism and preemption. It questions whether and to what extent notions of federalism shape how federal law - or the absence of it - preempts states from taking measures to address climate change. A burgeoning body of legal scholarship mulls whether federal law ought to preempt state action. There is yet relatively spare legal scholarship on preemption reflecting recent developments in the courts and at EPA.
Part One explains how federalism principles have shaped responses to climate change. It observes how allowing states to take steps to regulate GHG emissions is well-grounded in our nation's tradition of dual sovereignty and federalism and is consistent with the Supreme Court's recent decision in Massachusetts v. EPA. It opines that state responses to climate change are consistent with federal law, which is designed to allow ample breathing room for state action and cooperative federalism. Thus, it concludes that EPA's denial of California's recent request to implement standards for greenhouse gas emissions from motor vehicles seems incongruent with a principal platitude of so much political theory.
Part Two addresses how preemption jurisprudence shapes state decisions concerning climate change. It considers how preemption has shaped modern environmental law, and how it might affect state climate measures. It examines the reasoning behind recent court decisions that held that federal law does not preempt state GHG emission standards for new vehicles. It concludes the test cases deflecting preemption challenges get it right. In short, states are supremely situated to experiment with social and technological reform to curtail precursors to climate change.
Keywords: federalism, preemption, environmental law, constitutional law, climate change
JEL Classification: K10, K32
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation