Brookings: Topics - Environmental Regulation

Can We Build Our Way to Reduced Carbon Emissions?

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee's climate change bill ignores the demand side of the equation which focuses on changing the built environment—the nations’ buildings and transportation systems, says Christopher Leinberger. He calls for policy that promotes demand mitigation measures so more Americans will use less energy and emit less greenhouse gases where they live, work and recreate.

The Global Recession and Climate Change

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 13:32:00 GMT

Delaying national commitments to reach reduced greenhouse gas emissions will be more costly for national governments in the long run. Nonresident Senior Fellow Warwick McKibbin says the floundering global economy is a critical factor in what actions can be taken now.

Designing a Cap-and-Trade System for the United States

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:30:00 GMT

Event Information:

November 04, 2009, 3:30 PM to 5:00 PM

As attention to U.S. climate legislation has been increasing on Capitol Hill, Brookings hosted a discussion on a new series of papers on U.S. climate policy design. These papers acknowledge the complexity inherent in climate policy; explain the fundamental challenges involved in addressing a particular set of design features; and suggest a credible path forward, calling attention to tradeoffs where they exist.

Cap-and-Trade Costs: Place Matters

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Much is in question today as Senate Environment and Public Works Committee chairman Barbara Boxer tries to push ahead with work on climate-change legislation, with Republicans threatening a boycott of the markup. Mark Muro and Jonathan Rothwell examine the costs of cap-and-trade regulations for the U.S. economy and families.

Equity and Efficiency in Cap-And-Trade: Effectively Managing the Emissions Allowance Supply

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

A cap-and-trade system of the sort envisioned by the current generation of Congressional proposals would create a new market in carbon allowances worth potentially hundreds of billions of dollars. In this paper, Adele Morris discusses the likely distributional implications of a U.S. cap-and-trade system and how policymakers could manage these implications by altering the way in which allowances or allowance revenues are distributed throughout the broader economy.

U.S. Industry and Cap-and-Trade: Designing Provisions to Maintain Domestic Competitiveness and Mitigate Emissions Leakage

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

A number of climate policy observers and U.S. policymakers have expressed concerns about the implications of climate policy for the U.S. industrial base. In this paper, Carolyn Fischer and Richard Morgenstern show that specific concerns about industrial competitiveness and emissions leakage could be realistically addressed in the context of a cap-and-trade system without unduly distorting the incentives that are essential to realizing an economically efficient outcome.

The Senate Climate Wrangle Begins

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Senators Kerry and Boxer recently unveiled their climate bill calling for the creation and funding of a string of energy innovation hubs that are dedicated to clean energy technology development and deployment. Mark Muro and Sarah Rahman reviewed the bill—especially as it impacts metro and regional areas—and noted its similarities and differences with the House of Representative's climate bill, Waxman-Markey.

U.S.-China Clean Energy Cooperation: The Road Ahead

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Kenneth Lieberthal analyzes the politics of U.S.-China cooperation, recommends how to structure a bilateral agreement on clean energy, and describes how the two countries can work together to shape a more successful UN climate change conference in Copenhagen.

Cost Containment for Cap-and-Trade: Designing Effective Compliance Flexibility Mechanisms

Thu, 17 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Concerns about the economic costs of climate policy and the potential for volatility in the future carbon market have led to a proliferation of possible mechanisms to mitigate these concerns. Bryan Mignone shows how a coherent "cost containment" policy could be constructed by considering two key substantive objectives – price stability and cost viability – and then tailoring policy instruments to meet these objectives.

Emissions Targets in Cap-and-Trade: Choosing Reduction Goals Compatible with Global Climate Stabilization

Thu, 17 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Binding greenhouse gas emissions targets are the backbone of any cap-and-trade system, but the appropriate stringency of domestic reductions remains an unresolved issue in US legislation. In this paper, Bryan Mignone shows how available scientific information could be coupled with a variety of judgments about climate risk and international burden-sharing to yield a plausible range of domestic cap-and-trade targets.

Market Oversight for Cap-and-Trade: Efficiently Regulating the Carbon Derivatives Market

Thu, 17 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Craig Pirrong writes that current legislative attempts to regulate derivatives trading in the climate and energy context are severely misguided. While arguing that the ex post enforcement regime should be strengthened to deter price manipulation, he suggests that overly restrictive clearing and exchange requirements will dramatically increase the costs of managing carbon price risk.

Beyond the Smart Grid: Challenges in the Electricity Markets

Fri, 11 Sep 2009 08:45:00 GMT

Event Information:

September 11, 2009, 8:45 AM to 1:00 PM

On September 11, the Brookings Institution’s Energy Security Initiative and Metropolitan Policy Program hosted a discussion on the challenges of modernizing the electricity grid.

Carbon Offsets, Reversal Risk and U.S. Climate Policy

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

One controversial issue in the larger cap-and-trade debate is the proper use and certification of carbon offsets related to changes in land management. Bryan Mignone, Matthew Hurteau, Yihsu Chen and Brent Sohngen show how reversal risk associated with such instruments could be properly internalized in a crediting framework and how this framework itself could be used to manage prices in the future carbon market.

Carbon Offsets and the Emerging Climate Coalition

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

As the Senate discusses the Waxman-Markey bill, Brian Mignone writes that architects of climate policy would do well to heed key lessons from the House debate. Mignone believes well-designed guidelines toward carbon offsets should enhance three key objectives, including political support for cap-and-trade, and preserve or enhance the environmental integrity of the broader policy.

The Economic Impact of Climate Change Reduction Strategies

Mon, 08 Jun 2009 10:30:00 GMT

Event Information:

June 08, 2009, 10:30 AM to 12:00 PM

On June 8, the Brookings Institution hosted a preview of a forthcoming report on the economic impact of climate change reduction strategies by Brookings experts Warwick McKibbin, Adele Morris and Peter Wilcoxen.

President Obama's Plan to Increase Fuel Efficiency Standards

Wed, 20 May 2009 14:40:26 GMT

In proposing higher fuel efficiency standards for new cars, President Obama has intervened in the private sector. Cliff Winston explains how consumer demand alone for fuel efficient cars was clearly not strong enough to drive the market in that direction. But, he warns of such unintended consequences as cars being less safe and driven more.

A Cap And Trade Calamity?

Mon, 23 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

A strong cap-and-trade program seems unlikely to pass given the economic downturn, writes William Galston. Since a majority of Americans say economic growth should be given the priority and Midwestern states depend more heavily on coal-fired power plants, President Obama’s options for cap-and-trade legislation are limited.

The Long and Winding Road: Automotive Fuel Economy and American Politics

Wed, 25 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The United States has been largely unsuccessful in reducing its petroleum consumption by regulating the fuel economy of motor vehicles. Pietro Nivola proposes a move towards a comprehensive carbon tax, which could reduce gasoline consumption more effectively and curtail carbon emissions from other, more damaging sources.

How Obama Should Confront Climate Change

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Writing as the UN Conference on Climate Change occured in Poland, William Antholis and Bryan Mignone argued that over the past decade, the evidence for human-induced climate change has become one of the most widely accepted scientific findings of our time. They offer four recommendations for President Barack Obama to carry out a comprehensive and economically sensible approach to the issue.

Towards a Realistic Global Climate Agreement

Sun, 30 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Warwick McKibbin and Peter Wilcoxen write that as a mechanism for controlling climate change, the Kyoto Protocol has not been a success. They offer an alternative framework for international climate policy, the McKibbin-Wilcoxen Hybrid3 as an approach that focuses on coordinated actions rather than mandated, inflexible outcomes.

Technological Scarcity, Compliance Flexibility and the Optimal Time Path of Emissions Abatement

Tue, 25 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The economic costs of a cap-and-trade system will depend on the extent to which the program facilitates compliance flexibility. Bryan Mignone compares the costs of different cap-and-trade policy architectures and estimates the economic value of realizing flexibility with respect to the timing of emissions abatement.

Prices in Emissions Permit Markets

Mon, 24 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Establishment of a mandatory cap-and-trade system in the United States remains an essential element of a comprehensive response to the global climate problem. Bryan Mignone considers the expected evolution of allowance prices in the future carbon market and what this implies for the design of provisions to limit the economic costs of such a program.

Checkpoint Poznan: Transatlantic Climate Relationship Post-Election

Mon, 24 Nov 2008 09:30:00 GMT

Event Information:

November 24, 2008, 9:30 AM to 11:00 AM

On November 24, 2008 the Brookings Institution and the Heinrich Boell Foundation convened a panel of US and European climate experts to discuss the outlook for the upcoming climate negotiations and the potential new relationship between the United States and Europe on the issue of climate change. The panel examined two aspects of the relationship – the domestic situations on both sides of the Atlantic and how the realities on the ground will play into the international negotiating positions at Copenhagen.

Top 10 Global Economic Challenges Facing America's 44th President

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

As President-Elect Obama prepares to lead the United States, what are the top global economic challenges facing the new president and his advisors and how should the new administration address them? A new report by Brookings global economic and development experts ranks the top 10 issues and details specific ideas for how to tackle the toughest challenges.

The Complexities of Carbon Cap-and-Trade Policies: Early Lessons from the States

Thu, 09 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Trading of emissions under a cap-and-trade regime has received prominent attention as a possible approach to reducing the carbon dioxide emissions that contribute to climate change. On September 25, one regional cap-and-trade program, involving ten Northeastern states, has already begun operation through an initial auctioning of carbon allowances. This poses many important issues of federalism, writes Barry Rabe, as the federal government begins to play catchup with states and will have to give thought to sorting out federal and state responsibilities.

Drilling Our Way to the Future

Wed, 24 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Bryan Mignone discusses the pros and cons of lifting offshore drilling bans in exchange for increases in financial incentives for renewable energy. He believes that while additional drilling is not the ultimate answer, it can have some near-term benefits while the gradual displacement of oil use for transportation occurs.

China’s Balancing Act: Economic Growth, Climate Change and the Environment

Thu, 18 Sep 2008 13:45:00 GMT

Event Information:

September 18, 2008, 1:45 PM to 5:00 PM

On September 18, experts from the Brookings Institution, the Earth Institute of Columbia University and the Academy of Macroeconomic Research under the National Development and Reform Commission of China discussed China’s economic outlook within the context of climate change, the potential for alternative energy use in China and the specifics of China’s greenhouse gas emissions challenges and water crisis.

Insuring the Climate

Mon, 15 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT

With cleanup from Hurricane Ike now underway across Texas and the upper Gulf coast, Bryan Mignone argues it is time to work to mitigate the costs of climate change. He writes that reducing carbon dioxide concentrations will help counter threats posed by extreme conditions such as drought and sea-level rises, in addition to lowering the growing risk of large hurricanes.

China’s Energy Policies and Their Environmental Impacts

Wed, 13 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT

In testimony before the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission, Erica Downs outlined China's energy policymaking reforms and how they are unlikely to substantially improve energy governance. She also discussed the implications of these changes for the United States.

Diving in the Deep End: Help Water Agencies Address Climate Change

Thu, 07 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Climate change has the unprecedented potential to profoundly affect the world’s water supplies. Shrinking reservoirs and more-frequent floods, among other threats, have tremendous ramifications for Americans living in dry areas or near the coast. Overcoming the challenges ahead will require the federal government to rethink how it views water and utility management.

Ethanol: Law, Economics, and Politics

Thu, 31 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Robert W. Hahn identifies key issues that will affect future ethanol support and suggests how politics could affect the development of sensible energy and climate policies in general. He offers some suggestions for more cost-effective development of energy alternatives that would enhance energy security and environmental quality.

Candidate Issue Index: Climate Change

Tue, 29 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Presidential candidates Barack Obama and John McCain have clashed over strategies to reduce America’s dependence on foreign oil and achieve energy independence. As part of a series of charts examining the candidates’ positions, Opportunity 08 compares their views on energy and climate change.

U.N. Climate Change Conference: Thinking Beyond Kyoto

Tue, 04 Dec 2007 14:49:41 GMT

The United Nation’s climate talks have begun in Bali with participants from nearly 200 countries. Carlos Pascual, vice president and director of Foreign Policy at Brookings, says the negotiations are aimed at producing a pact that will replace the Kyoto Protocol – which expires in 2012.

Challenges Facing the Climate Change Conference

Thu, 29 Nov 2007 17:07:40 GMT

As delegates gather for the U.N. Climate Change Conference in Bali, Indonesia this week, world leaders will try to devise a comprehensive agreement on reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Brookings scholar Warwick McKibbin says the issues are complex with both environmental and economic considerations.

Recipe for European Climate Leadership

Sat, 17 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Climate change policies require thoughtful decision making to avert catastrophic damage to the Earth. Nigel Purvis argues that "despite the obvious need for urgent action, patient and adaptive European diplomacy will best serve the world."

Economist calls for bipartisan approach on climate

Mon, 05 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT

As discussion of global warming in Australia heats up, Brookings Scholar Warwick Mckibbin argues little was achieved by the recent debate and says Australia may be better served if the parties worked together on the issue.

International Cooperation in a Post-Kyoto World

Thu, 01 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Bryan Mignone assesses prospects for international cooperation on global warming.

An Economic Strategy to Address Climate Change and Promote Energy Security

Tue, 30 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Jason Furman and co-authors present a three-part strategy for addressing climate change and promoting energy security.

A U.S. Cap-and-Trade System to Address Global Climate Change

Tue, 30 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Robert N. Stavins, a Hamilton Project expert, argues that a cap-and-trade system is the better approach for the United States in the short to medium term—and more likely to be politically successful.

An Equitable Tax Reform to Address Global Climate Change

Tue, 30 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Gilbert E. Metcalf, a Hamilton Project expert, argues that strong political, administrative, and efficiency arguments can be made for the superiority of a carbon tax to a cap-and-trade scheme.

More Than 40 Prominent Economists Urge Supreme Court To Let EPA Consider Costs and Consequences of Clean Air Regulations

Fri, 05 Oct 2007 19:10:27 GMT

A Brookings news release, July 2000.

Parameters of Energy Security

Thu, 28 Jun 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Ultimately, successful international coordination on climate change will depend on the extent of domestic support, and domestic support, in turn, will depend on the existence of a broad security-environment coalition.

How to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions Now

Fri, 01 Jun 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Congressional leaders are finally working seriously on long-term approaches to climate change. Three major bills propose variations on a cap-and-trade approach that combines industry emission limits or "caps" with a government-created market for trading emission credits.

A New Political Climate for Global Warming

Tue, 22 May 2007 10:00:00 GMT

Event Information:

May 22, 2007, 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM

The Supreme Court's EPA Ruling Isn't As Important As You Think

Mon, 16 Apr 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Opinion by Benjamin Wittes, The New Republic (4/16/07)

Climate Change Policy

Wed, 21 Mar 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Interview by Gregg Easterbrook, The Diane Rehm Show (3/21/07)

What Will it Cost to Fight Global Warming?

Thu, 22 Feb 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Interview with Barry Rabe; NPR's Talk of the Nation (2/22/07)

Towards a Rational Market for Natural Gas

Sat, 16 Dec 2006 00:00:00 GMT

Urjit Patel discusses demand for natural gas in India as demand increases in an Opinion from Business Standard

Does the Clean Air Act Require the EPA to Combat Global Warming?

Mon, 04 Dec 2006 14:00:00 GMT

Event Information:

December 04, 2006, 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM

On November 29, 2006, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments on one of the most important environmental cases in decades, Massachusetts v. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The justices reviewed a federal appeals court ruling in favor of the Bush Administration's refusal to regulate greenhouse gas emissions. On December 4, Brookings continued its Judicial Issues Forum series with a discussion on the case and the larger issues around global warming.

Regulating Emissions of Greenhouse Gases Under Section 202(a) of the Clean Air Act

Sun, 01 Oct 2006 00:00:00 GMT

Policy Brief by Robert Litan (10/2006)

Energy Security: Responding to the Challenge

Tue, 29 Nov 2005 09:30:00 GMT

Event Information:

November 29, 2005, 9:30 AM to 10:30 AM

Climate Change Policy: The View From Europe

Mon, 18 Apr 2005 10:00:00 GMT

Event Information:

April 18, 2005, 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM

Clear Skies, No Lies

Wed, 16 Feb 2005 00:00:00 GMT

Opinion by Gregg Easterbrook; The New York Times (2/16/05)

Climate Change Policy: Next Steps

Wed, 09 Feb 2005 10:00:00 GMT

Event Information:

February 09, 2005, 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM

The Political Economy of Nuclear Energy in the United States

Wed, 01 Sep 2004 00:00:00 GMT

Brookings Policy Brief by Pietro S. Nivola. (September 2004)

Statehouse and Greenhouse : The Emerging Politics of American Climate Change Policy

Wed, 11 Feb 2004 00:00:00 GMT

Recipient of the 2005 Lynton Keith Caldwell prize for the best book on environmental politics and policy.

Statehouse and Greenhouse examines the surprising evolution of state-level government policies on global climate change. Environmental p

Everything You Know About the Bush Environmental Record is Wrong

Mon, 15 Apr 2002 00:00:00 GMT

Gregg Easterbrook takes a look at Bush's environmental policies.

Managing Green Mandates : Local Rigors of U.S. Environmental Regulation

Mon, 29 Oct 2001 00:00:00 GMT

Climate Change: An Agenda for Global Collective Action

Mon, 15 Oct 2001 00:00:00 GMT

Joseph E. Aldy, Peter R. Orszag and Joseph E. Stiglitz conclude that the most auspicious approach to achieving emission reductions in the near-term is implementing a hybrid system of emission quotas with a maximum permit price.

Moving Beyond Kyoto

Mon, 01 Oct 2001 00:00:00 GMT

Policy Brief #66, by Warwick J. McKibbin (October 2000)

CO2 Controls Are a Bad Idea, 'Voluntary' or Not

Tue, 31 Jul 2001 00:00:00 GMT

Opinion by Robert W. Crandall, Senior Fellow, the Brookings Institution, in the Wall Street Journal, July 31, 2001

The Next Step for US Climate Change Policy

Tue, 26 Jun 2001 00:00:00 GMT

Opinion by Warwick McKibbin, Non-Resident Senior Fellow, and Peter Wilcoxen, Non-Resident Senior Fellow, The Brookings Institution, June 26, 2001

National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) Brief

Sat, 15 Jul 2000 00:00:00 GMT

Brookings scholars and other economists argue that it would be imprudent not to consider costs in the setting of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards.

Pumps and Pocketbooks

Mon, 24 Apr 2000 00:00:00 GMT

Opinion by Pietro Nivola, Senior Fellow, the Brookings Institution, in The Washington Post, April 24, 2000

The Next Step for Climate Change Policy

Tue, 01 Feb 2000 00:00:00 GMT

Paper on Climate change by Warwick J. McKibbin and Peter J. Wilcoxen (02/2000)

The Morning After Earth Day : Practical Environmental Politics

Thu, 27 May 1999 00:00:00 GMT

This book explores how policymakers, businesses, and citizen groups are using environmental pragmatism to resolve conflicts and begin shaping the next generation of environmental policy.

Environmental Protection & the States: ""Race to the Bottom"" or ""Race to the Bottom Line""?

Tue, 01 Dec 1998 00:00:00 GMT

Brookings Review article by Mary Graham (Winter 1998)

Environmental Policy: The Next Generation

Thu, 01 Oct 1998 00:00:00 GMT

Policy Brief #37, by Donald F. Kettl (October 1998)

Blended Rationality and Democracy: An Elusive Synthesis for Environmental Policy Reform

Tue, 01 Sep 1998 00:00:00 GMT

Article by Christopher H. Foreman, Jr., in Science Communication, September 1998

EPA's Proposed Air Quality Standards: Clean Air Sense

Sun, 01 Jun 1997 00:00:00 GMT

Brookings Review article by Lester B. Lave (Summer 1997)

The Costly Pursuit of the Impossible

Sun, 01 Jun 1997 00:00:00 GMT

Brookings Review article by Robert Crandall (Summer 1997)