Lecture 22: Government Solutions

• Three ways governments help with climate change

  • Policies
  • Programs
  • Pacts/Agreements
• Policies

  • Setting industrial carbon emission limits
  • Minimum miles per gallon requirements
• Programs


  • Energy Star
  • LEED
• Pacts/Agreements


  Paris Climate Agreement
• Carbon dioxide emissions are largely unregulated as it is not seen as a normal pollutant
• Acid rain was a major issue that mobilized governments to regulate industrial emissions
• Carbon tax


  Industries taxed based on carbon dioxide emissions
• Cap and trade


  Governments set a limit on total carbon dioxide emissions, companies can buy/sell emission credits
• Vehicle fuel economy standards increased

  Carbon dioxide emissions decreased
• Energy Star


  Government certification program for energy efficient appliances
• LEED


  Green building certification system based on a points system
• Maryland is 6th in the US for LEED certified building square footage per person
• Energy subsidies


  Government payments to offset costs of renewable energy projects
• Renewable energy additions have increased significantly due to subsidies
• The IPCC is the most important scientific body addressing climate change, with 195 member nations
• Paris Climate Agreement


  International agreement to limit temperature rise to 2°C above pre-industrial levels, no enforcement mechanism
• The US withdrew from the Paris Agreement in 2020, but is expected to rejoin in 2021 under the new administration