Translating State Experience into Federal Climate Policy

One area where states have developed expertise is in the registration and tracking of greenhouse gas (“GHG”) emissions. Even though tracking GHG emissions has recently become a mainstream federal issue, Wisconsin has long been a leader in this area. Since 1993, Wisconsin has required any facility that emits more than 100,000 tons of carbon dioxide (“CO2”) to report its emission levels to the state Department of Natural Resources. It is the only state with such a requirement. Additionally, dozens of sources that fall well below the threshold voluntarily report their emissions, providing the state with a detailed, multi-year profile of its major CO2 sources. The profile includes most major electric utilities in the state, a wide range of large industries, and a mixture of smaller sources

The Upside of Down: Catastrophe, Creativity, and the Renewal of Civilization by Thomas F. Homer-Dixon, Island Press

The world is facing a convergence of numerous social, economic, and environmental problems, and many say that it is the first time in human history that this has happened on such a scale. Yet history, particularly the rise and fall of previous civilizations, may help us understand what is coming, and how to handle it so that we do not risk the fall of the human civilization. In The Upside of Down: Catastrophe, Creativity, and the Renewal of Civilization, author Thomas F. Homer-Dixon looks to the Roman Empire to examine what will likely happen when society breaks down under the weight of the problems we face, and to learn how to prevent the collapse of our civilization. The pervasive issue of climate change is the key example used throughout the book

Translating State Experience into Federal Climate Policy

One area where states have developed expertise is in the registration and tracking of greenhouse gas (“GHG”) emissions. Even though tracking GHG emissions has recently become a mainstream federal issue, Wisconsin has long been a leader in this area. Since 1993, Wisconsin has required any facility that emits more than 100,000 tons of carbon dioxide (“CO2”) to report its emission levels to the state Department of Natural Resources. It is the only state with such a requirement. Additionally, dozens of sources that fall well below the threshold voluntarily report their emissions, providing the state with a detailed, multi-year profile of its major CO2 sources. The profile includes most major electric utilities in the state, a wide range of large industries, and a mixture of smaller sources