The Western Urban Landscape and Climate Change

69 Pages Posted: 30 Oct 2019

See all articles by Edward J. Sullivan

Edward J. Sullivan

Portland State University

A. Dan Tarlock

Chicago-Kent College of Law - Illinois Institute of Technology

Date Written: October 21, 2019

Abstract

The withdrawal by the United States from the Paris Climate Accords leaves America cities and states as the agencies for change in reaching the world goal of less than two degrees Celsius increase over the pre-industrial levels. While some states, notably California, have stepped up, climate change response has largely been taken by cities, which will also bear the brunt of climate change effects.

This paper surveys the efforts of six Western American cities, namely Los Angeles, San Francisco, Phoenix, Salt Lake City, Seattle and Portland to deal with climate change and uses four “markers” (i.e., transportation, land use, public services and facilities and energy generation) to evaluate those responses.

None of the cities reviewed achieve an outstanding grade in all four categories and, correlatively, does each of them do poorly in all categories. Instead, there are programs to be emulated in each of these cities.

The conclusions suggest that other cities may wish to adopt selective programs from these cities as their own economic circumstances and political will may allow.

Keywords: Climate Change, police power, municipal law

JEL Classification: H77, K11, K20, K23, K32, R14, R38, R52

Suggested Citation

Sullivan, Edward J. and Tarlock, A. Dan, The Western Urban Landscape and Climate Change (October 21, 2019). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3473503 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3473503

Edward J. Sullivan (Contact Author)

Portland State University ( email )

United States
503-793-0291 (Phone)

A. Dan Tarlock

Chicago-Kent College of Law - Illinois Institute of Technology ( email )

565 West Adams St.
Chicago, IL 60661
United States
(312) 906-5217 (Phone)
(312) 906-5280 (Fax)

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