Local Influences on Global Institutions: The Case of US States and the Global Climate Regime.

In many cases, institutional interplay is a two-way street. Although more powerful institutions tend to have a bigger influence on less powerful ones, influence is mostly still at least somewhat reciprocal. This applies to institutions at different levels of social organization as well. Local institutions being smaller on a spatial scale can be assumed to be less powerful compared to global ones. But how powerful are they really? This paper seeks to trace the influence of the local level on the global level by examining whether and how much US state-level climate policy influences the global climate regime. It will examine responses initiated at the state level, including vehicle emissions standards, emissions trading (Chicago Climate Exchange, RGGI), renewable portfolio standards, etc. and examine what influence these policies are having on the development of global institutions. ..PAT.-Unpublished Manuscript [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]