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10
Policy
Abstract
Policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality have
been very important to the environmental progress that has been made. These
policies vary across locations and also by the topics addressed, with larger
locations (such as countries) often taking broader and more systemic changes,
while smaller locations such as cities often take more pointed and innovative steps. Air quality has been improved in many locations because of these
regulations, and efforts to improve air quality through regulations and policy
incentives are continuing. This chapter reviews three exemplar locations and
their policies. Norway has made great progress in reducing greenhouse gas
emissions and improving air quality by adopting policies with incentives.
China has used incentives and regulations to transition from motorcycles and
scooters with internal combustion engines to electric bikes in its major cities.
Southern California has made progress in a continuing effort to improve air
quality in the Los Angeles metropolitan area using regulations and incentives.
10.1 Introduction
Most local, state, and federal governments have several policies that impact
greenhouse gas emissions and air quality. For example, coal- burning power
plants have air pollution controls because of regulations on emissions that
impact air quality. Some of these policies also reflect the fact that electricity generation has been in transition to renewable sources, including wind
and solar energy, for many years. In particular, some policies have created
incentives to encourage wind and solar energy- generated electricity. There
are nearly as many different policies as there are governments in the world.
Nearly everywhere has approved policies that are now being followed, some
of which are more extensive and progressive than others.
The US Clean Air Act is the focus of Chapter 7 in the book Choked by Beth
Gardiner (2019). The history and politics of legislative events associated with
the Act are described, as well as the great success in reducing early deaths
91
10
Policy
Abstract
Policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality have
been very important to the environmental progress that has been made. These
policies vary across locations and also by the topics addressed, with larger
locations (such as countries) often taking broader and more systemic changes,
while smaller locations such as cities often take more pointed and innovative steps. Air quality has been improved in many locations because of these
regulations, and efforts to improve air quality through regulations and policy
incentives are continuing. This chapter reviews three exemplar locations and
their policies. Norway has made great progress in reducing greenhouse gas
emissions and improving air quality by adopting policies with incentives.
China has used incentives and regulations to transition from motorcycles and
scooters with internal combustion engines to electric bikes in its major cities.
Southern California has made progress in a continuing effort to improve air
quality in the Los Angeles metropolitan area using regulations and incentives.
10.1 Introduction
Most local, state, and federal governments have several policies that impact
greenhouse gas emissions and air quality. For example, coal- burning power
plants have air pollution controls because of regulations on emissions that
impact air quality. Some of these policies also reflect the fact that electricity generation has been in transition to renewable sources, including wind
and solar energy, for many years. In particular, some policies have created
incentives to encourage wind and solar energy- generated electricity. There
are nearly as many different policies as there are governments in the world.
Nearly everywhere has approved policies that are now being followed, some
of which are more extensive and progressive than others.
The US Clean Air Act is the focus of Chapter 7 in the book Choked by Beth
Gardiner (2019). The history and politics of legislative events associated with
the Act are described, as well as the great success in reducing early deaths