[Book Review] California Greenin’: How the Golden State Became an Environmental Leader

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[Book Review] California Greenin’: How the Golden State Became an Environmental Leader
by Sumit Chowdhury \| 09-06-2019 05:01 1
Being a student of forestry and environmental science, i had the chance to go through many interesting and good books related to the climate and environment. So i take this chance to share my experience of reading such a wonderful book related to the environment. The name of the book is "California Greenin’: How the Golden State Became an Environmental Leader". David Vogel carefully details how citizen mobilization, business support and regulatory capacity have iteratively enabled progressive reforms. This is a fascinating case study in its own right, but it also provides broader insights about progressive policy change – both methodologically and substantively. Vogel’s positive deviant is California’s environmental leadership. No other US state has enacted so many innovative, comprehensive and stringent environmental regulations. These include: protecting Yosemite Valley (1864); curbing hydraulic gold mining (1884); regulating logging (1884); controlling pollution (1947); buttressing enforcement (1940s-1960s); enacting the world’s first emissions standards (1964); establishing the US’s first coastal protection agency (1969); introducing energy efficiency standards for appliances and buildings (1977, 1979); incentivising conservation (1982); restricting tailpipe emissions (2002); adopting legally binding emissions targets (2006); and then buttressing this mandate (2016). By 2016, California’s greenhouse gas emissions had receded to below their 1990 levels. So, what explains this success? Answer: citizen mobilisation, business support and regulatory capacity. Vogel presents three key drivers of environmental regulation: citizen mobilization, business support and (faith in) state capacity. This is persuasively demonstrated through a long-term and sectorally comparative study of positive deviance, understanding the causes of effects. It is a truly fabulous book, one of the best I’ve read.

Dormant user Sumit Chowdhury

7 Comments

Louis Mentor says :
Hi Sumit,

Thank you for writing this report and I enjoyed reading it. As you mentioned in the report, the government should take more responsibility in protecting the environment because the government actually has the authority to enforce and stipulate the regulations to foster environment-caring culture. I would love to see how my country's government will take more responsibilities as time passes by. Great work!

Louis Mentor
Posted 01-07-2019 02:45

Kushal Naharki

Kushal Naharki says :
Hello Sumit

I do hope that you are fine and doing great with your works.
Thank you for your brilliant report about the book review of ‘California Greenin: How the golden state became an environmental leader??' I am really looking forward for reading the book.

Green Cheers from Nepal :)
Keep writing great reports.
We are eager to read more reports from you.

Sincerely,
Kushal Naharki

Posted 14-06-2019 20:47

Wonhee Mentor says :
Hello Sumit

Thank you for sharing us your book review on ‘California Greenin: How the golden state became an environmental leader.?? As governments can play a significant role in protecting the environments by passing laws or creating regulations, we need politicians who care about environments. David Vogel seems to be the best example! Your report makes me want to read this book! Keep up the good work.

Wonhee Mentor
Posted 13-06-2019 17:38

Asmita Gaire says :
Hello sumit
Great salutation to this book.
Thank you so much for this report.
Green cheers!
Posted 10-06-2019 04:24

Prashamsa Bhusal says :
Great report!
Go green!!
Posted 09-06-2019 15:59

Vazira Ikhtiyorova

Vazira Ikhtiyorova says :
Greetings from Tashkent!
Thank you for an amazing book review! Honestly, I haven't read it yet but will definitely.
Keep it up!
Warm wishes,
Vazira.
Posted 09-06-2019 06:35

Rosa Domingos says :
Hey there Sumit!

Thank you so much this report )
This book has gained my respect in that it gives an actual time line of how the city of Calif&#243rnia has progressed sustainablly throughout the years. This is a classic yet true results of how regulation and legislation is applied and preserved.

I will look it up and read more on their successful enforcements and societal support.

Thank you so much for reporting Sumit, an excellent report indeed!
Warm regards,
Rosa
Posted 09-06-2019 05:20