Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

US Climate Policy: Features of Evolution and Current State

  • Conference paper
  • First Online:
Proceedings of Topical Issues in International Political Geography (TIPG 2022) (TIPG 2022)

Part of the book series: Springer Geography ((SPRINGERGEOGR))

  • 60 Accesses

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the features of evolution of the US climate policy and to assess the impact of internal and external factors on its formation. The United States plays a crucial role in a global climate policy as this country has been holding a special position in the negotiation process within the framework of the Conferences of the Parties on Climate (COP) for many years. The US climate policy is characterized by the protection of the national interests and applying market instruments to the fight against global climate change. The United States insists on making voluntary commitments by all countries to reduce CO2 emissions. In addition, the US position on combating global climate change is cyclical: under the rule of the democratic presidents, more ambitious programs are adopted than under republican ones. The presidential decisions have a low legal status and can be easily substituted upon the arrival of a new president. Currently, the United States occupies the position of a world leader in the fight against climate change. American President Joe Biden announces the possible achievement of the goals for carbon neutrality by 2050, and he widely pursues the policy of ecological transformation of the national economy and protection of ecosystems and biodiversity. However, his policy can be easily crossed out by any successor in the same way as it was in 2017 under the rule of President Donald Trump.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 219.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 279.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Arroyo, V.: Climate Change and US Policy. In: Cerdá, E., Labandeira, X. (eds.) Climate Change Policies. Global Challenges and Future Prospects, pp. 267–277 (2010)

    Google Scholar 

  2. Bailey, S.J.: US Climate Change Policy, p. 194. Routledge, London (2016)

    Book  Google Scholar 

  3. Crippa M., Guizzardi D., Muntean M., Schaaf E., Solazzo E., Monforti-Ferrario F., Olivier J.G.J., Vignati E.: Fossil CO2 emissions of all world countries – 2020 Report Publications Office of the European Union. 222 p. Luxembourg (2020).

    Google Scholar 

  4. Gupta, J.: The History of Global Climate Governance. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge (2014)

    Book  Google Scholar 

  5. Haas, C.M., Koschut, S., Lammert, C.: Politik in den USA. Institutionen- Akteure- Themen. Verlag W. Kohlhammer. 173 P, Stuttgart (2018)

    Book  Google Scholar 

  6. Lisowski, M.: Playing the Two-Level Game: US President Bush’s Decision to Repudiate the Kyoto Protocol. Environ. Polit. 11(4), 101–119 (2002)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Mauelshagen F., Lopez-Rivera A. Klima-Governance in den Americas In: Peters, Rohland, Kaltmeier, Burchardt, Schnepel (Hrsg.). Krisenklima. Umweltkonflikte aus lateinamerikanischer Perspektive. Nomos, Baden-Baden, pp. 17–47 (2021)

    Google Scholar 

  8. Olson M.: The Logic of Collective Action. Public Goods and the Theory of Groups. M., FEI (1995)

    Google Scholar 

  9. Oreskes, N., Conway, E.M., Shindell, M., Little, F.C., to Dr.: Pangloss: William Nierenberg, global warming, and the social deconstruction of scientific knowledge. Hist. Stud. Nat. Sci. 38(1), 109–152 (2008)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Simonis G. Die USA In: Simonis G. Handbuch Globale Klimapolitik Р. Paderborn, pp. 334–376 (2017)

    Google Scholar 

  11. Thielges S., Unger C. Energiedominanz. Das Schicksal von Klimaschutz und nachhaltiger Energie in der Außenpolitik Trumps. Lukas D. Herr, Marcus Müller etl. Hrsg. In: Weltmacht im Abseits. Nomos. Baden-Baden, pp. 215–247 (2019)

    Google Scholar 

  12. Wampler, R.A.: U.S. Climate Change Policy in the 1980s. In: National Security Archive. https://nsarchive2.gwu.edu/NSAEBB/NSAEBB536-Reagan-Bush-Recognized-Need-for-US-Leadership-on-Climate-Change-in-1980s

  13. H. R. 2998 To create clean energy jobs, achieve energy independence, reduce global warming pollution and transition to a clean energy economy In: US Congress. https://www.congress.gov/bill/111th-congress/house-resolution/587/text

  14. USA First Nationally determined contribution In: UNO. URL: https://www4.unfccc.int/sites/ndcstaging/PublishedDocuments/United%20States%20of%20America%20First/U.S.A.%20First%20NDC%20Submission.pdf

  15. United States: What share of global CO2 emissions are emitted by the country? https://ourworldindata.org/co2/country/united-states?country=~USA

  16. Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: 1990–2019 р. 36 In: EPA. https://www.epa.gov/climate-indicators/climate-change-indicators-us-greenhouse-gas-emissions

  17. Klimakiller SUV-Boom: Studie malt drastisches Zukunftszenario. URL.: https://www.fr.de/wirtschaft/suv-trend-klimakiller-iea-studie-zeigt-drastische-folgen-13139502.html

  18. President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law In: The white House. https://www.whitehouse.gov/bipartisan-infrastructure-law/

  19. Table 1.3 Primary energy consumption by source. URL: https://www.eia.gov/totalenergy/data/browser/index.php?tbl=T01.03#/?f=A&start=1949&end=2020&charted=4-1

  20. The United States of America Nationally Determined Contribution, Р. 3. https://www4.unfccc.int/sites/ndcstaging/PublishedDocuments/United%20States%20of%20America%20First/United%20States%20NDC%20April%2021%202021%20Final.pdf

  21. Energy use (kg of oil equivalent per capita) In: World Bank Data. https://databank.worldbank.org/reports.aspx?source=2&series=EG.USE.PCAP.KG.OE&country

  22. Special Message to the Congress on Conservation and Restoration of Natural Beauty. 8.08.1965 In: The American Presidency Project. URL: https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/special-message-the-congress-conservation-and-restoration-natural-beauty

  23. Restoring the Quality of Our Environment. Report of the Environment Pollution Panel President’s Science Advisory Committee. In: The White House. November 1965. https://www.climatefiles.com/climate-change-evidence/presidents-report-atmospher-carbon-dioxide

  24. Report of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on the Framework Convention on Climate Change In: UN. https://unfccc.int/files/essential_background/background_publications_htmlpdf/application/pdf/convru.pdf

  25. A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate regarding the conditions for the United States becoming a signatory to any international agreement on greenhouse gas emissions under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. In: Congress USA. https://www.congress.gov/bill/105th-congress/senate-resolution/98

  26. Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, UN. https://www.un.org/ru/documents/decl_conv/conventions/kyoto.shtml

  27. Current Legislative Activities. 117th Congress (2021–2022) In: Congress USA. https://www.congress.gov

  28. President Bush’s Invitation to Major Economies Meeting on Energy Security and Climate Change. https://2001-2009.state.gov/g/oes/rls/or/92160.htm

  29. US-senatoren wollen gesetzentwurf zum klimaschutz einbringen. https://www.energate-messenger.de/news/17712/us-senatoren-wollen-gesetzentwurf-zum-klimaschutz-einbringen

  30. Climate Stewardship and Innovation Act of 2005 In: Congress USA. https://www.congress.gov/bill/109th-congress/senate-bill/1151

  31. 2020 Mobile Source Strategy In: California Air Resources Board. https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/sites/default/files/2021-12/2020_Mobile_Source_Strategy.pdf

  32. Donald Trump to sack climate change scientists and slash Environmental Protection Agency budgets, says official In: Independent. Friday 27 January 2017. https://www.independent.co.uk/climate-change/news/donald-trump-epa-myrion-ebell-environmental-protection-agency-global-warming-climate-change-a7548926.html

  33. Sabin Center For Climate Change Law. URL: https://climate.law.columbia.edu/climate-deregulation-tracker

  34. Joe Biden In: Twitter. https://twitter.com/joebiden

  35. Climate Policy Office In: The White House. https://www.whitehouse.gov/cpo/#:~:text=The%20White%20House%20Office%20of,jobs%2C%20and%20advance%20environmental%20justice

  36. Zeitenwende für den internationalen Klimaschutz? Über Chancen und Herausforderungen der Biden-Präsidentschaft//Institut für transformative Nachhaltigkeitsforschung. https://www.iass-potsdam.de/de/blog/2021/01/zeitenwende-fuer-den-internationalen-klimaschutz-ueber-chancen-und-herausforderungen

  37. Joe Biden thought about the existential In: Kommersant. 02.11.2021. URL: https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/5061741

  38. President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. In: The White House. https://www.whitehouse.gov/bipartisan-infrastructure-law

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Geography RAS, Moscow, Russia

    Yuri Kovalev

  2. Ural Federal University, Yekaterinburg, Russia

    Anatoly Stepanov, Maria Ilyushkina & Alexander Burnasov

Authors
  1. Yuri Kovalev
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Anatoly Stepanov
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Maria Ilyushkina
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Alexander Burnasov
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. St. Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg, Russia

    Radomir Bolgov

  2. St. Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg, Russia

    Vadim Atnashev

  3. Herzen State Pedagogical University of Russia, St. Petersburg, Russia

    Yury Gladkiy

  4. University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia

    Art Leete

  5. Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, St. Petersburg, Russia

    Alexey Tsyb

  6. Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, St. Petersburg, Russia

    Sergey Pogodin

  7. The University of Memphis, Memphis, TN, USA

    Andrei Znamenski

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2024 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this paper

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this paper

Kovalev, Y., Stepanov, A., Ilyushkina, M., Burnasov, A. (2024). US Climate Policy: Features of Evolution and Current State. In: Bolgov, R., et al. Proceedings of Topical Issues in International Political Geography (TIPG 2022). TIPG 2022. Springer Geography. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-50407-5_45

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation