A Broader Vision for Climate Policy: Lessons from California

Abstract

As state and local climate action once again takes center stage, California’s incorporation of environmental justice into numerous climate policies provides important insights for other states’ climate initiatives. California laws have recognized that efforts to reduce greenhouses present significant challenges and opportunities that reach beyond tons of CO2. Numerous policies sketch a broader vision for a green transition, one that provides tangible socioeconomic and environmental benefits for the state’s citizens. Although each state’s specific challenges and opportunities are likely to differ, California’s multi-faceted climate policies provide important lessons.

Keywords: climate change, global warming, climate justice, cap-and-trade

JEL Classification: K32, Q54, Q52, Q48, Q42