BU professor says U.S. government must keep pace with states' climate change efforts

The United States federal government must quickly create a stronger climate change policy to catch up to states' efforts in combating global warming, according to a Boston University professor.

International relations professor Henrik Selin, co-author of "Political Science and Prediction: What's Next for U.S. Climate Change Policy?" said there is a major environmental policy discrepancy among federal, state and city levels in a January 2007 issue of Review of Policy Research.

"In the short time, there is more states can do, but that will only go so far," Selin said in an interview. "You will need federal policy in the not-too-distant future."

Selin, who co-authored the report with University of New Hampshire political science associate professor Stacy VanDeveer, said U.S. officials need to do more as states with large political and economic influence make environmental policies ahead of the government.

"Everything happening at a local level will be important for the federal level sooner or later," he said, "and probably sooner rather than later."

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, an international group of climate scientists, announced last month they are 90 percent certain that rising temperatures since 1950 have been driven mainly by the buildup of carbon dioxide and other heat-trapping greenhouse gases, according to the intergovernmental panel's official website.

Swift measures can prevent possible negative effects of global warming, the website states.

"More and more companies need to think of reducing greenhouse gas emissions," Selin said. "In many ways, the private sector has gone further than the federal government, as an increasing number of companies are going beyond the federal requirements.

"Some companies do it because it's the responsible thing to do, but many have discovered that they can do it and save money at the same time," he continued. "The less energy, the less money spent. It's a win-win situation."

Current federal climate change policy will have to be clearer by 2011, Selin said. Carbon dioxide emissions -- which have a direct impact on global warming -- will need to be limited both nationally and across borders, Selin said.

"A national cap on carbon dioxide will come fairly soon, along with an emissions trading cap."

Global warming, the result of "a lot of past sins since the beginning of the industrial revolution," is an important long-term issue for future generations, Selin said.

"The actions are not to prevent something bad for tomorrow, but to reduce the negative impact in 2050," Selin said.

Other BU professors are doing research on similar topics related to climate change and alternative energy.

Geography and environmental department professor Cutler Cleveland has researched "the relationship between energy use and economic effects" and "the transition to alternative energy."

"In the long run, major energy transitions have had huge economic and social repercussions," he said.

BU Energy and Environmental Studies Center senior research assistant Richard Reibstein, who also studies environmental policy reforms, said because researchers do not know what preventative measures will be most effective, there are no limits.

"We have to try everything, and we are all in this together," he said in an email. "We would see immediate results from any substantial action, as it would strengthen our will to do more and demonstrate that we can take common action in the common interest."

The transition to emission reduction is "eminently doable," as long as politicians maintain the will to forward policy proposals regardless of the opposition, Reibstein said.