Climate Change and the Law - 2nd Edition - Chris Wold

Climate Change and the Law 2nd Edition Chris Wold ISBN 9780769860268

Climate Change and the Law offers a comprehensive analysis of the law, science, and policy surrounding climate change, equipping students to understand and respond to this global challenge. Given the wide-ranging impact of climate change, the book examines how multiple areas of law—public international law, administrative law, federal environmental statutes, state and municipal regulations, and the common law—intersect in addressing this critical social issue. By integrating legal theory with real-world climate challenges, the text provides students with a thorough, interdisciplinary perspective essential for the next generation of lawyers.

The book begins with a detailed exploration of the international climate change regime, including emissions trading and the controversial use of land use and forest management practices to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It also considers potential future international agreements aimed at reducing emissions by up to 80 percent. Additionally, the text examines how other international instruments can support climate mitigation and adaptation efforts, exploring initiatives such as petitions to list World Heritage Sites as endangered due to climate change or to recognize climate change as a human rights violation.

The second edition has been updated to reflect the latest developments in climate science, law, and policy, including:

• Updated scientific findings from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Fifth Assessment Report

• Adoption of a second commitment period under the Kyoto Protocol and new accounting rules for forest and land use emissions

• Progress in international climate negotiations following the Copenhagen Accord, including the Cancun Agreements and preparations for a post-2020 climate regime

• Increased focus on short-lived climate forcers, such as methane and HFCs, across multilateral forums including the International Civil Aviation Organization and the Arctic Council

• Expanded coverage of adaptation strategies, particularly at the U.S. federal level

• Analysis of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s efforts to value the social cost of carbon

• Updated overview of U.S. climate change policy since the 1970s, including regulation of greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act, vehicle and stationary source emissions, revisions to Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) and Renewable Fuels Standards

• Reorganized discussion of energy policy, highlighting renewable portfolio standards, net metering, feed-in tariffs, and the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act (PURPA)

• New insights into state-level initiatives, including the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative and California’s early experience with cap-and-trade

This edition provides students with a thorough understanding of both the legal and practical dimensions of climate change law, preparing them to navigate a complex and evolving field.

Climate Change and the Law 2nd Edition Chris Wold ISBN 9780769860268, 978-0769860268 & 9780327185307

Authors
Chris Wold
David Hunter
Melissa Powers