Sustainability Policy Hastening the Transition to a Cleaner Economy

Sustainability Policy: Hastening the Transition to a Cleaner Economy is a fundamental guide for public sector professionals new to sustainability policy development, implementation, strategy, and practice. Featuring detailed cases highlighting innovative sustainability initiatives, this book explores the elements that constitute effective policy, and the factors that can help or hinder implementation and adoption. Readers gain insight into policies in effect at the federal, state, and local levels, in the areas of water, energy, material use, and waste management, and the reasons why local policies are often the most innovative and successful. Discussion surrounding monitoring and measurement addresses the lack of standardization, as well as the government's critical role in leading the field toward generally accepted sustainability metrics, while outlining the reasons why certain policies are more feasible than others.

This book is an introductory resource, written in non-technical language, and organized in a coherent manner that establishes foundational knowledge before introducing more complex issues. Even readers with little background in sustainability will gain insight into the current state of the field and the issues at hand.

• Understand sustainability in public and private enterprises, including the role of government and public policy
• Learn the current standing federal, state, and local policies surrounding sustainability
• Discover what makes an effective sustainability policy, including measurement and evaluation metrics
• Explore the politics and future of sustainability, and the barriers to change

Sustainability is a hot topic in both the public and private sector, with vocal advocates on both sides of every issue, so developing effective policy is crucial. For public sector professionals entering the sustainability field, Introduction to Sustainability Policy & Management is a valuable resource.

STEVEN COHEN is the executive director and chief operating officer of the Earth Institute, and professor in the practice of public affairs at Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs.

WILLIAM EIMICKE is a professor in the Practice of international and public affairs and the founding director of the Picker Center for Executive Education at Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs.

ALISON MILLER is deputy executive director of the Earth Institute, Columbia University and the associate director of the Research Program on Sustainability Policy and Management at the Earth Institute.

Preface: The Role of Government in the Transition to a Sustainable Economy vii

Acknowledgments xv

Chapter 1 What is Sustainability Management? 1

Chapter 2 Why We Need Sustainability Public Policy 21

Chapter 3 Policy Levers for Sustainability: The Federal Level 45

Chapter 4 Policy Levers for Sustainability: The State Level 83

Chapter 5 Policy Levers for Sustainability: The Local Level 123

Chapter 6 Sustainability Measurement and Metrics 161

Chapter 7 The Politics of Sustainability 187

Chapter 8 Conclusion 217

References 227

About the Authors 263

Index 267

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