About a month ago I pooh-poohed the efforts of individual states to deal with climate change (see Climate Federalism). But, what if every, i.e., all 50, state(s) imposed climate change regs? Well, then, I guess climate federalism might work in an OK way. It might even be better than the current what difference can I make? approach.
Here is a CNN story from the west coast that suggests some momentum to climate federalism (NW States ...):
Despite an effort by auto industry lobbyists to kill the move, two Pacific Northwest states -- Oregon and Washington -- are getting ready to adopt California's new vehicle emission standards to reduce greenhouse gases.
When that happens, California's newly implemented emissions standards -- the toughest in the country -- will be in effect along the entire West Coast from Canada to Mexico.
By 2016, all new cars, SUVs and light trucks sold in the West Coast states would have to comply with the tougher standards on emissions of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, which are believed to be a leading cause of global warming. The 2016 date was set to give automakers plenty of time to comply with the new standards.
At least six states in the Northeast are also moving to adopt California's new tailpipe standards to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from cars.
It's an environmental squeeze play -- with states on the two coasts working to try to force the auto industry to turn out cleaner, more fuel efficient cars, as those states comprise nearly a third of the U.S. car market.
And, at the .gov level, I'm sure you didn't miss this (Sens. McCain, Clinton probe ... )
Sens. John McCain and Hillary Clinton, touring Alaska this week to view melting permafrost and shrinking glaciers, said the evidence is mounting that global warming is real and human activity is significantly to blame.
"The question is how much damage will be done before we start taking concrete action," McCain, R-Ariz., told reporters at the Hotel Captain Cook Wednesday morning. "Go up to places like we just came from. It's a little scary."
Clinton, D-N.Y., said the scientists and Native people she's spoken to on this trip to Alaska and Canada's Yukon Territory make the case with convincing and moving particulars.
I'm sniffing a change in the big Mo', are you?
