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Climate Hawks And California's Carbon Offset Program, Ross Astoria Sep 2012

Climate Hawks And California's Carbon Offset Program, Ross Astoria

Ross Astoria

Abstract Two non-profit organizations composed of climate hawks are presently challenging the legality of the offset portions of California’s greenhouse gas cap-and-trade regulations. They claim that the offset protocols do not guarantee “additionality” as required by AB 32, the Global Warming Solutions Act. In this paper, I look at the general regulatory framework in which California offset projects are to be developed and argue that for the most part climate hawks ought to use the protocols to develop buy-in and disseminate expertise, two “incidental” yet indispensible aspects of successful GHG mitigation policy. The degree to which these two goals can …

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The Regulation Of Climate Engineering, Jesse Reynolds Jun 2011

The Regulation Of Climate Engineering, Jesse Reynolds

Jesse Reynolds

Intentional interventions in global physical, chemical, and biological systems on a massive scale are receiving increasing attention in hopes of reducing the threat of anthropogenic climate change. Known as climate engineering, or geoengineering, research is moving forward, but regulation remains inadequate, due in part to significant regulatory challenges. This essay asserts that key to overcoming these regulatory challenges is distinguishing between the two primary forms of climate engineering, and between deployment and research. One of climate engineering's two primary forms, carbon dioxide removal, can largely be addressed through existing legal instruments. In the case of solar radiation management, the other …

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Remaking The World To Save It: Applying U.S. Environmental Laws To Climate Engineering Projects, Tracy Hester Mar 2011

Remaking The World To Save It: Applying U.S. Environmental Laws To Climate Engineering Projects, Tracy Hester

Tracy Hester

Given the high levels of greenhouse gases already in the atmosphere and the likelihood of growing emissions in the future, even aggressive limits on greenhouse gas emissions might ultimately fail to prevent dangerous climate disruptions. To prepare for this risk, some scientists have started to explore techniques that directly influence or control global and regional climatic systems to offset climate change effects. As climate engineering research expands, U.S. environmental law could become an important forum for efforts to control nascent climate engineering technologies. Federal and state agencies should start now to map out regulatory strategies and guidance for potential requests …

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