Governments’ Role in Governments’ Role in Energy SustainabilityEnergy Sustainability

Zach BrymZach BrymJames KunzJames KunzEytan Shtull-LeberEytan Shtull-LeberBhavya SridharBhavya Sridhar

Questions We Wish to Questions We Wish to Answer:Answer:

What do we mean by sustainability?What do we mean by sustainability? Which form of government—sub-Which form of government—sub-

national, national, or international—is national, national, or international—is currently best suited for sustainability?currently best suited for sustainability?

How do governments differ in How do governments differ in progressive thought in regard to progressive thought in regard to sustainability?sustainability?

HypothesisHypothesis Sub-National Government: The Local Sub-National Government: The Local

ApproachApproach National Government: The Current National Government: The Current

AnswerAnswer Progressive Thought Within National Progressive Thought Within National

GovernmentGovernment Conclusion and International Conclusion and International

Government: The Means of the FutureGovernment: The Means of the Future

Project OutlineProject Outline

HypothesisHypothesis

Sub-national government implementsSub-national government implements National creates/enforces environmental National creates/enforces environmental

policypolicy Without National influence, sustainability Without National influence, sustainability

only exists as a patchy networkonly exists as a patchy network Once national governments begin to Once national governments begin to

adopt this paradigm, international adopt this paradigm, international government will supplant themgovernment will supplant them

Sub-National Sub-National Government: AdvantagesGovernment: Advantages

Closest to People:Closest to People: ““As the level of governance closest to the people, As the level of governance closest to the people,

[sub-national governments] play a vital role in [sub-national governments] play a vital role in educating, mobilizing, and responding to the public educating, mobilizing, and responding to the public to promote sustainable development” --UNCED, to promote sustainable development” --UNCED, 19921992

Greatest in NumberGreatest in Number Best-suited for ImplementationBest-suited for Implementation

““If sustainable development does not start in the If sustainable development does not start in the cities, it simply will not go—cities have got to lead cities, it simply will not go—cities have got to lead the way."the way." - --UNCED, 1992-UNCED, 1992

Ann ArborAnn Arbor

Sun Dragon PoolSun Dragon Pool Municipality Initiatives Municipality Initiatives

CaliforniaCalifornia

New Solar Homes New Solar Homes PartnershipPartnership

Wind Power: 1.5% of the Wind Power: 1.5% of the State’s total electricity – State’s total electricity – California Energy CommissionCalifornia Energy Commission

Sub-National Sub-National Government: Government: DisadvantagesDisadvantages

Limited ResourcesLimited Resources Budget and Cost of Renewable EnergyBudget and Cost of Renewable Energy

Limited InfluenceLimited Influence ““Most initiatives remain localized “islands of Most initiatives remain localized “islands of

success”… a reflection of the limits to success”… a reflection of the limits to bottom-up development.” --Peter Gubbels, bottom-up development.” --Peter Gubbels, International Program Director, World International Program Director, World NeighborsNeighbors

National GovernmentNational Government

The conditions for sustainability simply The conditions for sustainability simply are not evident [in local government]…are not evident [in local government]…the statethe state must work to establish a must work to establish a sophisticated blend of pressure and sophisticated blend of pressure and support” –Fullan et al., Ontario Institute support” –Fullan et al., Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, 2001for Studies in Education, 2001

National Government: National Government: AdvantagesAdvantages

Nearly Unlimited BudgetNearly Unlimited Budget Infrastructure in PlaceInfrastructure in Place

SubsidiesSubsidies IncentivesIncentives

InfluenceInfluence

GermanyGermany

Chernobyl and the German Energy Chernobyl and the German Energy StoryStory

100,000 Solar Roofs Program100,000 Solar Roofs Program Wind Power SubsidiesWind Power Subsidies EcotaxEcotax Renewable Energy ActRenewable Energy Act

www.solarfuture.org

ChinaChina

Sustainable VillagesSustainable Villages Three Gorges DamThree Gorges Dam ConcernsConcerns

Progressive Thought in Progressive Thought in National GovernmentNational Government

Women in Women in government = government = progressive progressive thoughtthought Reflection of Reflection of

voters voters Tendencies of Tendencies of

representativesrepresentativesUnep, 2002

GIS ResultsGIS Results

Correlation between women Correlation between women in government and total in government and total energy consumptionenergy consumption

Progressive Thought

Women in Government

Environmental Policy

Positive, Reinforcing, Multidirectional Loop

Looking Toward the Looking Toward the FutureFuture

United States needs to continue positive United States needs to continue positive stridesstrides George Bush “We are addicted to oil.”George Bush “We are addicted to oil.” Massachusetts v. Environmental Protection Massachusetts v. Environmental Protection

AgencyAgency

International GovernmentInternational Government ““Intergovernmental relations in federations have Intergovernmental relations in federations have

proved to be highly adaptive to changing proved to be highly adaptive to changing circumstance and capable of great innovation…circumstance and capable of great innovation…which suggests that federalism might provide a which suggests that federalism might provide a promising framework.”promising framework.” --David C. Hawkes --David C. Hawkes

Variations between national governments Variations between national governments Developed vs. DevelopingDeveloped vs. Developing Western nations vs. other nationsWestern nations vs. other nations

International GovernmentInternational Government Kyoto AccordKyoto Accord United NationsUnited Nations Hope for the futureHope for the future