HEADNOTE: China as an emerging superpower makes for an engaging story line, but already-legendary pollution and rampant natural resource consumption highlight the central government’s weakness as it struggles to catch up to the West. A world class environmental protection system is unlikely without improvements in the country’s legal and administrative systems.
By Samuel Bleicher
The Strategic Path LLC
WithAnother Viewby Dan Guttman, Johns Hopkins
Obstacle Course | Landmarks and Land Mines
HEADNOTE: What the past tells us about a workable climate regime — the author looks at the existing institutional and legal mechanisms and finds them capable of handling global warming but lacking the features needed for a control regime up to the task of saving the planet.
By Bradley M. Campbell
WithAnother Viewby Philip Sharp of Resources for the Future
Cover Story | It’s About Timing
HEADNOTE: With emissions banking and borrowing or both a ceiling and floor for allowance prices, a cap-and-trade system can reap many of the benefits of an emissions levy, while potentially avoiding the political hurdles a new tax will face. These measures could reduce volatility and firms might meet goals at a fraction of the cost or achieve mandated reductions faster.
By Terry Dinan and Peter Orszag
Congressional Budget Office
WithAnother Viewby Brian Murray, Duke University
Profile | Tales From the War on Cancer
HEADNOTE: For Devra Lee Davis, the battle against the dreaded disease is a saga of denial, doubt, and deception — a series of stories she tells in two highly praised recent books. Her goal: making prevention the cure by reducing emissions and limiting exposure.
The Forum | The CAIR Vacatur
HEADNOTE: On July 11, the Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit threw virtually all interested a parties a curve ball by vacating and remanding EPA’s Clean Air Interstate Rule. CAIR had been relied upon by states as an integral component of their strategies to attain ambient air quality standards. Companies had made significant investments in reliance upon the rule. And many environmentalists supported the trading regime meant to clean up air pollution in downwind states from upwind sources.
THE FEDERAL BEAT
By Margaret Kriz
Alaska’s congressional delegation is pushing funding to help state residents adjust.
AN ECONOMIC PERSPECTIVE
By Robert N. Stavins
Benefits of biological sequestration achieved through changes in development patterns.
AROUND THE STATES
By John Pendergrass
States as innovators on climate policy, even as the federal government begins to take action.
SCIENCE AND THE LAW
By Craig M. Pease
This dispute, like much environmental litigation, concerns which tools society will use in solving problems.
IN THE COURTS
By Richard Lazarus
The Supreme Court bar is dominating in a manner not seen since the days of Daniel Webster.
A VIEW FROM THE EU
By Gabrielle Williamson
The Commission predicts that biofuels will result in a 50 percent reduction in greenhouse emissions.
THE BUSINESS OF ENVIRONMENT
By Elliott P. Laws
California says that its climate law will boost its economy by $27 billion and add 100,000 jobs.
NOTICE & COMMENT
By Stephen R. Dujack
Energy and the economy both in the tank: Are we set for a repeat of That Seventies Show?
The Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, an ELI partner, has released an oversight agenda for the new administration.
