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About

This website provides model laws that can be adopted by all levels of government and the private sector to drastically reduce fossil fuel use and greenhouse gas emissions.

The Book

The Environmental Law Institute has published Legal Pathways to Deep Decarbonization in the United States (Michael B. Gerrard & John C. Dernbach eds.). The book is a playbook of state, local, federal, and private legal pathways for enabling the United States to address what is easily among the greatest problems facing this country and the rest of humanity.

Over 35 separate chapters authored by 59 experts, it identifies more than a thousand legal options for reducing U.S. greenhouse gas emissions by at least 80% from 1990 levels by 2050.  It builds on the U.S. work of the Deep Decarbonization Pathways Project, and has been prepared in collaboration with that organization.

The book is available from West Academic or Amazon. A short summary volume is available for free download.

Acknowledgments

We would like to acknowledge:

  • The Andrew Sabin Family Foundation for generous financial support
  • Jordan Gerow and Morgan Schwartz for performing research and website development for this project
  • Richard Horsch for coordinating the efforts of a team of pro bono lawyers drafting model laws
  • Marcy Kahn for coordinating peer review efforts
  • Joseph DiMona for political outreach efforts
  • The many pro bono lawyers and other experts who drafted the model laws and provided peer review

International Context

Deep reductions in greenhouse gas emissions also need to occur in other countries.  The United States continues to be a party to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, which creates an international structure that can facilitate that result.  Under the 2015 Paris Agreement, to which the U.S. is a party until at least November 4, 2020, countries are encouraged to share their mid-century, long-term low greenhouse gas emission development strategies.   Many countries have already done so; their reports can be accessed here.  In addition, a comprehensive database of climate change laws from around the globe, compiled by the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment and the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law, is available at the Climate Change Laws of the World website.  We have begun to work with researchers in other countries and regions who are interested in preparing books similar to our book for their country or region, and we welcome additional inquiries.

Creation of the site was generously supported by the Andrew Sabin Family Foundation.
© 2021 Sabin Center for Climate Change Law

This website provides educational information. It does not, nor is it intended to, provide legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is established by use of this site. Consult with an attorney for any needed legal advice. There is no warranty of accuracy, adequacy or comprehensiveness. Those who use information from this website do so at their own risk.

Laws vary considerably from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. The model legal documents on this website are not specific to any jurisdiction. They should be viewed solely as a starting point for legislators, policymakers and interested stakeholders, and would need to be adapted and modified to the particularities of local, county, state, federal and other legal systems in consultation with an attorney licensed to practice and experienced in the drafting and enactment of legislation in that jurisdiction.

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