meetings in San Diego....
Challenging the California Model for Climate Solutions
Cheri Lucas Jennings, Ph.D.
Bruce H. Jennings, Ph.D.
Abstract
Scientists around the world cite an accumulating body of evidence to urge the
adoption of dramatic changes in policy to address a worsening climate crisis.
Identifying the precise policies to be pursued, however, is especially
contentious. California environmental law, often used as a guide by others, is
once again serving as a model for shaping climate policies, including
discussions of a Green New Deal.
adoption of dramatic changes in policy to address a worsening climate crisis.
Identifying the precise policies to be pursued, however, is especially
contentious. California environmental law, often used as a guide by others, is
once again serving as a model for shaping climate policies, including
discussions of a Green New Deal.
Many states are now seeking to implement one or another version of a
specific California market-based approach to climate change: cap-and-trade.
A closer examination of this emissions trading law raises serious questions
regarding both this policy approach as well as the use of market mechanisms
more generally. Manyof the state’s older, non-market policies for prohibiting
inherently hazardous activities may provide a more compelling approach for
addressing the principal sources of climate change; a threat perhaps better
understood by a different appellation: fossil-fueled crises.
specific California market-based approach to climate change: cap-and-trade.
A closer examination of this emissions trading law raises serious questions
regarding both this policy approach as well as the use of market mechanisms
more generally. Manyof the state’s older, non-market policies for prohibiting
inherently hazardous activities may provide a more compelling approach for
addressing the principal sources of climate change; a threat perhaps better
understood by a different appellation: fossil-fueled crises.
The choice of laws and policies adopted over the next decade may prove
pivotal for addressing the existential threat posed by fossil fuels. California
presents an instructive guide regarding the promise as well as treachery
embedded in the distinctive approaches for addressing rapidly worsening
global crises.
pivotal for addressing the existential threat posed by fossil fuels. California
presents an instructive guide regarding the promise as well as treachery
embedded in the distinctive approaches for addressing rapidly worsening
global crises.
The Conflicts over Climate Solutions
On February 21, 2019 a youthful group of students made their way to U.S. Senator Dianne
Feinstein’s San Francisco office. Speaking in nervous and tentative tones, they presented
a simple, singular demand: “We want you to support the Green New Deal.”
Feinstein’s San Francisco office. Speaking in nervous and tentative tones, they presented
a simple, singular demand: “We want you to support the Green New Deal.”
For many of us familiar with world of politics, this scene is very much the bread and butter
of office holders everywhere. Such meetings typically afford office holders the opportunity to
demonstrate their political acumen. Carefully listen, ask questions, nod appreciatively, and
thank guests for visiting. It is often a vital opportunity to measure what is going on in the world.
of office holders everywhere. Such meetings typically afford office holders the opportunity to
demonstrate their political acumen. Carefully listen, ask questions, nod appreciatively, and
thank guests for visiting. It is often a vital opportunity to measure what is going on in the world.
Instead, Senator Feinstein informed the students she had just been re-elected as their U.S.
senator and they would do better listening to her. Among the many hundreds of thousands
who subsequently viewed the video clip, her message appeared arrogantly stark: the public,
not unlike these children, needs to think more carefully about their naive notion of a Green
New Deal and leave the serious decisions to experienced elected officials. As if to
double-down on this public relations disaster, Senator Feinstein’s staff the very next day
released a draft version of their more properly considered Green New Deal.
senator and they would do better listening to her. Among the many hundreds of thousands
who subsequently viewed the video clip, her message appeared arrogantly stark: the public,
not unlike these children, needs to think more carefully about their naive notion of a Green
New Deal and leave the serious decisions to experienced elected officials. As if to
double-down on this public relations disaster, Senator Feinstein’s staff the very next day
released a draft version of their more properly considered Green New Deal.
Senator Feinstein’s draft proposal is striking in terms of its simplicity. Whereas the Green New
Deal presented by Congress Member Alexandria Ocasio Cortez et al. identifies broad swaths
of policies ranging from public health and welfare, worker transitions and much more,
Feinstein’s proposal draws on a mere handful of largely existing laws. And whereas the Green
New Deal demands dramatic reductions in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, Feinstein calls
for reducing net greenhouse gas emissions no later than 2050.
Deal presented by Congress Member Alexandria Ocasio Cortez et al. identifies broad swaths
of policies ranging from public health and welfare, worker transitions and much more,
Feinstein’s proposal draws on a mere handful of largely existing laws. And whereas the Green
New Deal demands dramatic reductions in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, Feinstein calls
for reducing net greenhouse gas emissions no later than 2050.
Many of Ocasio Cortez’ detractors immediately seized upon the seemingly unwieldy
implications of her Green New Deal: vast expenditures creating yet another layer of
burdensome and intrusive regulatory programs. Feinstein’s proposal, by contrast, reflects
a plan cast by a seasoned legislator: a pragmatic plan merging a handful of new initiatives
matched with restoring a small group of existing law policies. A closer reading of each
approach, however, reveals a much deeper divide between the two proposals with respect to
the primary mechanisms for transitioning the national economy away from fossil fuels.
implications of her Green New Deal: vast expenditures creating yet another layer of
burdensome and intrusive regulatory programs. Feinstein’s proposal, by contrast, reflects
a plan cast by a seasoned legislator: a pragmatic plan merging a handful of new initiatives
matched with restoring a small group of existing law policies. A closer reading of each
approach, however, reveals a much deeper divide between the two proposals with respect to
the primary mechanisms for transitioning the national economy away from fossil fuels.
Senator Feinstein’s proposal displays a very different framework for what measures should
serve as solutions to a crisis threatening the survival of human civilization. Topping the
Senator’s list of new initiatives is a program largely describing what many regard as
California’s most celebrated climate law: the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006:
serve as solutions to a crisis threatening the survival of human civilization. Topping the
Senator’s list of new initiatives is a program largely describing what many regard as
California’s most celebrated climate law: the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006:
The United States shall reduce net greenhouse gas emissions to zero as soon as
possible and by no later than 2050, including by:
Instituting a price on carbon that increases over time, impels the cooperation of
foreign nations, and uses revenues to defray household costs and spur new
zero-emission investments;
possible and by no later than 2050, including by:
Instituting a price on carbon that increases over time, impels the cooperation of
foreign nations, and uses revenues to defray household costs and spur new
zero-emission investments;
Dianne Feinstein’s proposal signals a much deeper conflict with the Green New Deal offered
by Ocasio Cortez and colleagues. Indeed, only a few short weeks before rebuffing her
young constituents, Senator Feinstein and her congressional colleagues received a letter
signed by over 600 groups demanding support for a Green New Deal. In addition to
endorsing specific provisions, the groups representing many millions of voters also rejected
failed policy instruments, including “...market-based mechanisms and technology options
such as carbon and emissions trading and offsets, carbon capture and storage, nuclear
power, waste-to-energy and biomass energy. Fossil fuel companies should pay their fair
share for damages caused by climate change, rather than shifting those costs to taxpayers.”
Senator Feinstein’s seemingly innocuous provision for setting a price on carbon based on a
cooperative plan with foreign nations portends a much more contentious debate regarding
the role of citizens, the state, and markets.
by Ocasio Cortez and colleagues. Indeed, only a few short weeks before rebuffing her
young constituents, Senator Feinstein and her congressional colleagues received a letter
signed by over 600 groups demanding support for a Green New Deal. In addition to
endorsing specific provisions, the groups representing many millions of voters also rejected
failed policy instruments, including “...market-based mechanisms and technology options
such as carbon and emissions trading and offsets, carbon capture and storage, nuclear
power, waste-to-energy and biomass energy. Fossil fuel companies should pay their fair
share for damages caused by climate change, rather than shifting those costs to taxpayers.”
Senator Feinstein’s seemingly innocuous provision for setting a price on carbon based on a
cooperative plan with foreign nations portends a much more contentious debate regarding
the role of citizens, the state, and markets.
The scene vividly displaying a group of young people challenging a powerful political figure
in her office calls forth many different interpretations. Youthful passions versus the sagacity
of the aged; the demand for immediate change versus a patience for incrementalism; casting
out the old and worn versus embracing items of enduring value. In the emerging
Anthropocene new questions arise about our choices: Are the familiar tools and time-tested
policy approaches simply insufficient to address the fossil-fueled crises of the 21st century ?
in her office calls forth many different interpretations. Youthful passions versus the sagacity
of the aged; the demand for immediate change versus a patience for incrementalism; casting
out the old and worn versus embracing items of enduring value. In the emerging
Anthropocene new questions arise about our choices: Are the familiar tools and time-tested
policy approaches simply insufficient to address the fossil-fueled crises of the 21st century ?
Without giving away the lede to this story,
young protesters around the globe may be on to something….
young protesters around the globe may be on to something….
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