One of the most detailed comparisons of the environmental policies of America and Europe yet undertaken, this volume looks at current policy trends in the United States and the European Union and the implications they have for future transatlantic and global cooperation. The book finds that although European and American policies may parallel each other somewhat in domestic regulation, they are clearly diverging in the "third generation" of environmental concerns, which include such global problems as climate change, international trade, and sustainable development.
Norman J. Vig is Winifred and Atherton Bean Professor of Science, Technology, and Society, Emeritus, at Carleton College.
This book raises the intriguing question of whether the world's two richest economies--the United States and the European Union--are following increasingly divergent paths on environmental policy, and points to the need for a new transatlantic partnership in this vital area. Everyone concerned about America's faltering environmental leadership should read this book. --The Honorable Timothy E. Wirth, President, The United Nations Foundation "An innovative and important comparison of environmental policymaking that sheds much light on the policy differences of the US and the EU and on how policymakers can more fruitfully learn from the experiences of others in designing more effective environmental policies. The book provides a very interesting look at how policies converge in some areas, diverge in others, and why those differences and similarities occur." --Gary C. Bryner, Department of Political Science, Brigham Young University "We cannot make progress on global environmental issues if we fail to understand the differences in approach between the United States and Europe. This volume not only sheds light on how we converge and diverge, but also offers us a little hope--that if we share information, analysis, and experience, a hybrid approach that draws on the best each side has to offer may emerge and provide a way forward." --Eileen Claussen, President, The Pew Center on Global Climate Change