This course will consider the capacity of North American political institutions to shape effective environmental protection policies, devoting primary emphasis to the United States but also examining Canada and Mexico. It will consider all governmental levels but be particularly attentive to the evolving role of American state governments, including questions of cross-border governance and relations between the federal government and non-US authorities. Major topics will include the ongoing evolution of climate change policy, related issues such as renewable energy policy and the development of market-based policies, and regulatory integration integration across environmental media of air, land, and water.
