Whether characterized as stimulus for "green" technology development or altruism, California has taken a big step. Legislative leaders agreed on tough controls on carbon emissions, despite arguments that business would leave California. This reinforces recent agreements with Northeastern states and the United Kingdom to drive around the current administration's roadblock to meaningful control of global warming pollution. Officials Reach California Deal to Cut Emissions - New York Times.
The next battle may be over the oil-coal-auto lobby's efforts to block such state initiatives in the courts, with arguments that the current federal administration's "do nothing" policy should be extended to preclude real efforts to control greenhouse gas (GHG) and other forms of global warming pollution. Yet the state initiatives offer real promise for creative exploration of workable solutions, something the federal government has failed to provide of late. See, e.g. Jim Marzilli, American Prospect Online - Laboratories Of Progress (October 5, 2005).
See also: Unintended Consequences: Blair and Schwarzenegger Form Carbon Trading Coalition of the Willing (July 31, 2006).
And: Unintended Consequences: Northeastern Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) (August 2, 2006)
Posted by dougsimpson at August 31, 2006 08:16 AM