Sustainability Policy - Hastening the Transition to a Cleaner Economy

Organized into eight chapters, the book is an introductory resource, written in accessible, non-technical language for public sector professionals (sustainability managers and coordinators, environmental agency directors and staff, legislators, analysts, policy makers and leaders) new to sustainability policy development, implementation, strategy and practice. Chapter One defines sustainability in public and private enterprises, introduces the business case for environmental sustainability, and describes the growth of sustainability in the areas of water, energy, material use, waste management. Chapter Two outlines the role of government in sustainability management and emphasizes why public policy is needed to stimulate the transition to a sustainable economy. It will discuss the limitations of the private sector in addressing long-term sustainability, despite the pioneering work of many private companies in this area. It will include a discussion of how sustainability is well suited for some of the most innovative public management tools including public-private partnerships. Chapter Three describes the portfolio of existing federal policies that function to encourage sustainability and includes detailed case studies of successful sustainability initiatives such as the U.S. military and solar power, automobile fuel efficiency standards, and investment in R&D. Also includes policy options at the national level that can be adopted in the near-term and describe why they are needed and what needs to happen to get them implemented. Chapter 4 is similar to Chapter 3 but describes state-level policies and options with detailed case studies such as the systems benefit charge in New York, and the formulation and implementation of energy efficiency standards in California. The chapter provides an evaluation of unique efforts and innovative state-run programs and a discussion of multi-state partnerships, like the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, and the advantages and disadvantages to such programs. Chapter Five describe the reasons why local level sustainability policies are among the most widespread and innovative in the U.S. It will detail how localities are ideally suited for sustainability planning, and will include case studies of successful city-led sustainability action - focusing on PlaNYC 2030 in New York City and other major US cities. This chapter will discuss both large scale sustainability plans and individual strategies within those plans, highlighting those that were most successful and impactful. Chapter Six describes the efforts at measuring and evaluating sustainability initiatives within both private organizations and public organizations. It will discuss the lack of standardization, and the critical role that government can play in leading the field towards generally accepted sustainability metrics. Chapter Seven provides an analysis of the politics of sustainability at the federal, state and local levels, the barriers to change and why certain policies are more politically feasible than others in the short and long term. Chapter Eight focuses on the future of sustainability policy and management in the U.S.