Climate Investment Policy

3 Credits · Level: Graduate

The Inflation Reduction Act and related legislation enacted in the 117th Congress represented a new investment-led approach to addressing climate change, environmental injustice, and energy costs. This course will examine the legislation from multiple perspectives both as a window into the current state of climate change policy and as a practical example of policy making. Coursework will cover prior legislative efforts to address climate change, the coalitions that formed to shape and advance an investment-led approach, the role of Presidential campaign platforms, the use of the budget reconciliation process and its implication for policy choices, and how institutional structures and varied goals among policymakers resulted in compromises and agreement. The course will also explore the details of the investment programs, their projected effects, the implementation choices and responsibilities of the executive branch together with state and local governments, their interaction with federal environmental regulations, and the implications for international trade and climate policy. The course will feature class discussion, supplemental reading assignments based on primary documents, and practical writing assignments. No prior knowledge of climate policy, economics, or the legislative process is required. Goal: After completing this course, students will understand how an example of major legislation came to pass, and how this legislation is shaping the context for future climate, environmental, and energy policy.