Greenhouse Gas Management: A Case Study of a Typical American City

Abstract

Climate change is arguably the single over-riding sustainability issue of our time and directly influences environmental, social, and economic well-being. This chapter focuses on climate change mitigation in the United States and reviews federal, state, and local governments’ efforts to manage greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Cities are often described as innovators in climate protection policy, and we utilize Kansas City, Missouri, as a case study to illustrate the efforts and challenges faced by a local government following a “typical” trajectory among climate-active cities in the United States. Like many other cities, its efforts are occurring in a context of limited resources, competing priorities, and political disagreement. Its experience informs a discussion about obstacles to widespread locally led GHG mitigation efforts and lessons-learned for circumventing these challenges.