Benjamin DeAngelo

The jurisdictional framework for municipal action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions: Case studies from Canada, the USA and Germany

Abstract This paper addresses two questions: (1) Given a commitment at the national level to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, what tools are available to national‐level governments to induce complimentary actions required at subnational levels? (2) In the absence of a serious commitment at national and regional levels to reduce GHG emissions, what is the scope for, and jurisdictional rights of, cities to undertake actions? In this context, federal, regional and municipal legislation relevant for GHG emissions is examined in Canada, the USA and Germany. Regarding the first question, different national governments find themselves in considerably different positions to implement climate initiatives at subnational levels, with the German government in the strongest position and the Canadian government in the weakest. The implications of this for a nations willingness to adopt emission reduction targets could be serious. Regarding the second question, there are few significant differences among Canadian...

Climate change impacts on US agriculture and forestry: benefits of global climate stabilization

United States. Environmental Protection Agency. Climate Change Division (Contract EP-BPA-12-H-0023, Call Order EP-B13H-00143)

Marginal abatement cost curves for US black carbon emissions

There has been increasing recognition of the important role that aerosols such as black carbon (BC) play in influencing net climate forcing, in particular the high rates of warming in the Arctic, and there is significant interest in reducing BC emissions. In order to assess mitigation options, there is a need for a better understanding of how current air quality policies designed for particulate matter reductions affect BC emissions and for the development of improved BC specific marginal abatement cost (MAC) curves. Using data from the United States (US), we assess the effects of existing air quality regulations on projected BC emissions (diesel fuel regulations in particular are already having significant effects). We also identify key US-specific abatement strategies and present MAC curves for further reducing BC emissions from two key US sources. This analysis may serve to inform similar research on BC mitigation in other regions and sectors.