Step-by-Step: The Role of Sequencing in Effective Climate Policy
The key to climate policy is to start by supporting investments in new technologies that produce both innovation and political change
This is the third in a series of posts. The first post is here. The second post is here. How might sequencing work in climate policy? And why is it important? I’ll explore these questions by walking through the most important stage of climate policy – initiating action on climate change. The initial steps of climate policy are in some ways the hardest – there are no strong interest groups to support climate policy, but climate policy does pose a poten...
CONTINUE READINGThe Multiple Goals of Climate Policy
Effective climate policy requires consideration of efficiency, equity, technological innovation, carbon reductions and political feasibility
This is the second in a series of posts. The first post is here. When people think about climate policy, they probably think that the goal of climate policy is reducing greenhouse gas emissions. And of course, the ultimate goal of climate policy is to reduce emissions, eventually getting us to an economy that is net zero. But there are many different possible policy paths to get to net zero, and we necessarily have to make a range of choices about which paths t...
CONTINUE READINGNo, Virginia, There is No Sanity Clause
A dangerous hallucinatory thread runs through today’s public discourse.
“Let me ask you this. What was the moment we can point to that nuclear technology was invented? I’ve never met a person who can isolate the moment where nuclear technology became known to man. German scientists in the 1930s? Really? Name the date? It’s very clear to me that these [nuclear weapons] are demonic.” The speaker, in case you’re wondering, was Tucker Carlson, who has also claimed that he was mauled by demons in his sleep. He also has a theory about e...
CONTINUE READINGTrump & Environmental Policy: The Sequel, Part II
Expect a lot of the same, but there could be some new twists.
As with many sequels, there will be many things we’ve seen before in Trump's second term. If you hated the original Trump Administration, you won’t enjoy watching the same thing the second time around. But there are a few additions to the cast and some new construction on the set. I talked about areas of continuity in my last post. Today, I’ll talk about some possible new twists. Better Organization. Trump didn’t expect to win in 2016. He and his crew were...
CONTINUE READINGThe Difficult Politics of Climate Change
How can we enact policy that is effective, resilient, and expands its ambition over time?
Climate change is a difficult problem to solve, politically. The costs of addressing climate change are born by current generations, but the benefits accrue to many generations to come. Addressing climate change might require people today to make significant sacrifices to benefit people around the world, as well as future generations. There are significant, powerful interest groups – such as the oil and gas industry – that benefit significantly from the status ...
CONTINUE READINGTowards Better Permitting Reform
What are we trying to achieve?
This is the third in a series of posts on permitting reform. The first post is here. The second post is here. How could we realistically achieve permitting reform that will advance climate and environmental goals? Answering that question requires recognizing the political realities of a sharply divided Congress and country. Any significant change to permitting reform requires a deal that is acceptable to both sides. There are some relatively small changes t...
CONTINUE READINGDeal or No Deal?
Should Congress pass EPRA?
This is the second in a series of posts on permitting reform. The first post is here. Given the provisions of the Energy Permitting Reform Act (EPRA), should Congress enact it as it stands now? Answering that question is tricky, in part because it depends both on uncertain political and administrative action, as well as uncertain forecasts about economic and climate impacts of the development that EPRA might, or might not, advance. As an overview to these questi...
CONTINUE READINGShould We Do Permitting Reform?
What is at stake with the Manchin bill.
As Congress wraps up its lame duck session before the new Congress and President arrive in January, there is a lot of debate about whether to move forward on permitting reform within a quickly shrinking window of time. The basis of debate is the Energy Permitting Reform Act (EPRA) co-sponsored by Senators Manchin and Barrasso. Environmental groups are generally opposed, as are some environmental law professors; a list of climate researchers signed a letter in opposit...
CONTINUE READINGA Framework for Equity and Local Leadership in the EV Transition
New tools to help local governments plan for equitable and effective investments
Eliminating fossil fuel-powered vehicles from the road is necessary to fight climate change and save thousands of lives at risk due to poor air quality. As governments and the auto industry advance the switch to electric vehicles, this rapid technology transition may disrupt traditional mobility patterns–and, without equitable planning and policy, it has the potential for negative impacts to mobility and affordability in underserved and lower-income communities. W...
CONTINUE READINGNEPA in the Supreme Court: The Seven Counties Oral Argument
Some arguments surfaced in the discussion that the Court would do well to ignore.
The Supreme Court heard oral argument recently in the Seven Counties case. The issue in the case is the scope of an agency’s duty to consider the environmental effects of its actions. Several arguments popped up in the discussion that appealed to at least some of the Justices. We think that they would do well to rethink them. Each of the arguments distracts attention from what ought to be the key question: what impacts should the agency take into account in making...
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