Sophisticated Interdependence in Climate Policy

Vivian E. Thomson

Description

This book offers a desperately needed framework for climate-change policy in the US, acknowledging the crucial role of coherent state–federal relations.

With the US as the world’s most prominent climate change outlaw, international pressure will not impel domestic action. The key to a successful global warming solution lies closer to home: in state–federal relations. Thomson proposes an innovative climate policy framework called “sophisticated interdependence.” This model is based on her lucid analysis of economic and political forces affecting climate change policy in selected US states, as well as on comparative descriptions of programs in Germany and Brazil, two powerful federal democracies whose policies are critical in the global climate change arena.

Acknowledgments; Tables and Figures; Introduction: The World’s Most Prominent Climate Change Outlaw; Chapter 1: Climate Change Contradictions in the United States; Chapter 2: Constraints and Opportunities: Forces Affecting State-Level Climate and Energy Programs; Chapter 3: Germany: “Wir Stehen Früher Auf” (We Wake Up Earlier); Chapter 4: Brazil: No More “Complexo de Vira-Lata” (Mongrel Complex); Chapter 5: Sophisticated Interdependence; Notes; Bibliography; Index

Informations

• Publié par: Anthem Press
• Date de parution: 15 février 2014
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781783081080
• Langue: English

Extrait

Sophisticated Interdependence in Climate Policy
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Sophisticated Interdependence in Climate Policy
Federalism in the United States, Brazil, and Germany
Vivian E. Thomson
Anthem Press An imprint of Wimbledon Publishing Company www.anthempress.com
This edition first published in UK and USA 2014 by ANTHEM PRESS 75–76 Blackfriars Road, London SE1 8HA, UK or PO Box 9779, London SW19 7ZG, UK and 244 Madison Ave #116, New York, NY 10016, USA
Copyright © Vivian E. Thomson 2014
The author asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work.
All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise), without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.
British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Thomson, Vivian E., 1956– Sophisticated interdependence in climate policy: federalism in the United States, Brazil, and Germany / Vivian E. Thomson. pages cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978-1-78308-110-3 (hardback: alk. paper) – ISBN 978-1-78308-017-5 (pbk.: alk. paper) 1. Climatic changes–Government policy–Cross-cultural studies. 2. Federal government–Cross-cultural studies. 3. United States–Politics and government. 4. Brazil–Politics and government. 5. German–Politics and government. I. Title. QC903.T54 2013 551.6–dc23 2013049737
ISBN-13: 978 1 78308 110 3 (Hbk) ISBN-10: 1 78308 110 4 (Hbk)
ISBN-13: 978 1 78308 017 5 (Pbk) ISBN-10: 1 78308 017 5 (Pbk)
Cover images used with permission: photo of Pat Mulroy by Darryl Martin; photo of Marina Silva by Francisco Messias; photo of Angela Merkel by DB Michael Kappeler/ picture-alliance/dpa/AP Images
This title is also available as an ebook.
Dedicated to the memory of Ann Mihm Roach
CONTENTS
Acknowledgments ix
Tables and Figures xiii
Introduction The World’s Most Prominent Climate Change Outlaw xv
The National Government Balks and then Arrives Late; The States Step In xix
A Millennial Model for Climate Change Policymaking xxviii
A Road Map for What Follows xxx
Chapter 1 Climate Change Contradictions in the States 1
Nine State Climate and Energy Programs 6
Active states 7
Surprise states 13
Passive states 17
Links between State Policies and Energy Profiles 20
Chapter 2 Constraints and Opportunities: Forces Affecting State-Level Climate and Energy Programs 23
Public Salience 26
Political Leadership and Problem Definition 33
Political Context: Political Culture, Legislatures, and Campaign Finance 36
Implications for a State–Federal Partnership 44
Chapter3 Germany: Wir Stehen Früher Auf (We Wake Up Earlier) 47
Germany’s Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trends 48
Political Consensus and International Pressure 52
Energiekonzept and Energiewende 57
Erneuerbare Energien Sind der Motor Unserer Wirtschaftspolitik (Renewable Energies Are the Motor of Our Economic Policy) 63
Centralized, Interlocking Federalism 69
Chapter 4 Brazil: No More Complexo de Vira-Lata (Mongrel Complex) 73
Politics, Regionalism, and Energy in Brazil 75
Public Salience of Global Warming and Environmental Issues 81
Deforestation and the National Government’s Climate Plan 82
Greenhouse Gas Policies and Politics in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro 87
Regionalism and Evolving State–National Connections 94
Chapter 5 Sophisticated Interdependence 99
The Surprise Guest at the Greenhouse Gas Policy Table 104
Anticipating Sundry State Reactions 107
Lessons from Germany and Brazil 114
Sophisticated Interdependence in Climate Change Policy 120
Notes
127
Bibliography
161
Index
177
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Researching and writing this book was a wonderful journey. Many colleagues, students, friends, and family members, lent a hand along the way and I am ever grateful to them all.
Anthem Press’s publisher, Tej Sood, and editors, Rob Reddick and Brian Stone, have been impressive from start to finish. They have been responsive, decisive, professional, and helpful. Caelin Charge designed the book’s marvelous cover.
The University of Virginia’s Department of Environmental Sciences, vice president for research, and Center for International Studies gave travel grants. The College and Graduate School of Arts and Sciences provided a much needed sabbatical leave. I especially thank Pat Wiberg, chair of environmental sciences, for her confidence in my work. I am grateful to Chonna Gammon and Debra Shifflett for their capable assistance with travel arrangements and reimbursements.
Martha Derthick, retired Julia Allen Cooper Professor at the University of Virginia and the foremost expert on US federalism, encouraged me to include Brazil. She was right to do so. Her influence over my work commenced when I enrolled in one of her graduate classes, deepened when she was my PhD advisor, and continues to this day in the form of a wonderful friendship. She offered incisive, helpful comments. She is a model teacher, extraordinary writer, and generous mentor.
Barry Rabe, professor of public policy at the University of Michigan and renowned expert on environmental policy, kept cheering me on. His advice and moral support were invaluable.
Vicki Arroyo and I co-authored a 2011 law review article that became Chapters 1 and 2 . Despite the many demands on Vicki’s time as executive director of the Georgetown Climate Center, the leading organization on state climate programs in the United States, she devoted a summer’s worth of her efforts and those of her law students to research and writing. Vicki keeps me current and connected with the latest developments in Washington. I value deeply this longstanding friendship, which started when we worked together at the US Environmental Protection Agency.
Kate Neff, my longtime Spanish tutor, dived into learning Brazilian Portuguese with me. Although I started studying that language before she did, I strain to keep ahead of her. She has kept me on my language game and she is a true friend.
Kate Hayes, graduate student and administrator extraordinaire, helped oversee the Environmental Thought and Practice BA program in fall 2012 while I was on sabbatical leave. This book would not have been written without Kate’s stellar organizational skills. I was truly lucky to have her assistance and I look forward to following her career as a landscape architect.
Capitol Hil