Sustainability Policy

A complete guide to sustainability policy at the federal, state, and local levels 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.

A complete guide to sustainability policy at the federal, stateand local levelsSustainability Policy: Hastening the Transition to a CleanerEconomy is a fundamental guide for public sector professionalsnew to sustainability policy development, implementation, strategyand practice. Featuring detailed cases highlighting innovativesustainability initiatives, this book explores the elements thatconstitute effective policy, and the factors that can help orhinder implementation and adoption. Readers gain insight intopolicies in effect at the federal, state, and local levels, in theareas of water, energy, material use, and waste management, and thereasons why local policies are often the most innovative andsuccessful. Discussion surrounding monitoring and measurementaddresses the lack of standardization, as well as the government'scritical role in leading the field toward generally acceptedsustainability metrics, while outlining the reasons why certainpolicies are more feasible than others.This book is an introductory resource, written in non-technicallanguage, and organized in a coherent manner that establishesfoundational knowledge before introducing more complex issues. Evenreaders with little background in sustainability will gain insightinto the current state of the field and the issues at hand.* Understand sustainability in public and private enterprisesincluding the role of government and public policy* Learn the current standing federal, state, and local policiessurrounding sustainability* Discover what makes an effective sustainability policyincluding measurement and evaluation metrics* Explore the politics and future of sustainability, and thebarriers to changeSustainability is a hot topic in both the public and privatesector, with vocal advocates on both sides of every issue, sodeveloping effective policy is crucial. For public sectorprofessionals entering the sustainability field, Introduction toSustainability Policy & Management is a valuableresource.

Preface: The Role of Government in the Transition to a Sustainable Economy viiAcknowledgments xvChapter 1 What is Sustainability Management? 1Chapter 2 Why We Need Sustainability Public Policy 21Chapter 3 Policy Levers for Sustainability: The Federal Level 45Chapter 4 Policy Levers for Sustainability: The State Level 83Chapter 5 Policy Levers for Sustainability: The Local Level 123Chapter 6 Sustainability Measurement and Metrics 161Chapter 7 The Politics of Sustainability 187Chapter 8 Conclusion 217References 227About the Authors 263Index 267