Global climate policy : will cities lead the way ?

8 While the Conference of the Parties wrangle at an international scale with climate policy, a quiet and effective 9 set of policies and measures is being implemented at a local scale by municipalities across the globe. This study 10 examines the motivation municipalities have for undertaking policies to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, when 11 the theory of free-riding would predict that local administrations should find it difficult to unilaterally reduce their 12 emissions for the benefit of the global climate. Through interviews with officials and/or staff in 23 municipalities in 13 the United States enacting climate policy, data are gathered that suggest local government abatement policies are 14 primarily a top–down decision based on what officials or staff members believe to be “good business” or rational 15 policy choices. They are primarily driven by the potential for cost savings and other realized or perceived co-benefits 16 rather than by public pressure. Economic data from some dozen municipal projects are analyzed, finding justification 17 for the often-disputed claim that at least initial reductions in emissions can be made at cost savings. 18 © 2003 Published by Elsevier Ltd. 19