State and local climate change initiatives: What is motivating state and local governments to address a global problem and what does this say about federalism and environmental law?

State and local initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions constitute an unusual outpouring of activity on a global environmental issue in the absence of federal leadership on climate change. Such an activity carries with it its own logic and its own set of opportunities for the development of environmental law. Overall, state and local actions are fostering regional coalitions and agreements on climate change, bolstering the degree to which localities identify with other states as members of a single region and strengthening the powers of such regional arrangements.