Establishing the Department of Climate Change: In Defense of a Consolidated Federal Climate Effort

Abstract

Climate change is the defining crisis of the Anthropocene, and the threat it poses cannot be overstated. The impacts of climate change, both direct and as a result of its capacity for threat amplification, will be felt across all facets of human and non-human life. At stake are hundreds of millions of lives, international political stability, the health and viability of the economy, and the future habitability of this planet. The extent and severity of the climate crisis necessitates a sea change in the priorities and conduct of the government, the private sector, and the public. Current government efforts are disjointed and limited in their authority, enforcement capability, and influence. Private sector attempts at technological redemption will ultimately be insufficient to enact the comprehensive changes necessary to limit the magnitude of climate change and adapt to its impacts. Establishing a concerted and immediate federal effort is therefore imperative to achieving significant, long-term emissions