US Action on Climate Change

When it comes to initiating national action, the best answer is not as one country but in fact, each of the states themselves. Today four representatives from the United States spoke on state and regional climate and energy policy leadership. These representatives included members from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Georgetown Climate Center (GCC), and the NY State of Environmental Conservation.

Their purpose was to discuss the important actions that are underway to combat climate change in the U.S. despite the absence of comprehensive federal legislation. One of the main focuses discussed by Vicki Arroya, executive director of GCC, was the ways in which individual states are combating against climate change. It was very intriguing because as delegates from the United States we see this happening on a local level personally in our own state. Minnesota is part of the 36 states that have renewable energy portfolio standards and have completed climate action plans. According to Arroya, the GCC goal/strategic role in implementing climate action plans is to inform the development of legislation, regulation, transportation, and adaptation policy as well as bring together academics and policymakers to improve climate policy. The purpose of these goals is to inform people that real reductions can be achieved at reasonable costs and that they are possible for everyone at state and regional levels.

The speakers mentioned a few times about the 3 regions dialogue - uniting the 3 regions of the US in combating climate change by sharing insights, exchanging information, supporting a federal program and its design, and considering opportunities for programs. The advantages of this type of collaboration, said Lauren Faber, the Assistant Secretary for Climate Change Programs, make accomplishing goals easier and gives us "sober optimism" because it is harder at a national level to agree on policies. Faber made California's standpoint on climate change clear saying that, "California is not an outlier in climate change policies". Doug Scott, director of Illinois EPA, also discussed efforts to address climate change in Illinois. Both states have provided essential programs in order to mitigate energy and GHGs (greenhouse gases). California has been a leader in renewable energy by following AB32: the Global Solutions Act inacted in 2006 which set the goal of reducing emission levels to those of 1990 by 2020. Not only do they follow AB32 but they are putting together a Cap & Trade program which is expected to be started in 2012. The plan for the program is to meet the goals of AB32 and provide carbon emission reductions. As for Illinois, they have created the Illinois Climate Action Group and have 23 recommendations for action plans within the group. Scott mentioned that if the 23 recommendations were put in place compared to doing nothing, the gross state product would increase, jobs would increase by 2020, and the total cost of energy would decrease. Obviously from this session, these two states are just an example of what is possible for policies and programs at a state level. Hopefully we can see more of what the United States has to offer involving policies implemented as a result of this conference.