- April 21, 2021
- -
- May 20, 2025
As part of the virtual event series State-to-State: German-American State Legislator Dialogue, the Aspen Institute Germany and the American Council on Germany hosted a discussion on “Climate Change and Energy Policy at the State Level” with German and American state legislators including Barbara Becker, MdL (CSU), State Parliament of Bavaria; Joschka Knuth, MdL (Alliance 90/The Greens), State Parliament of Schleswig-Holstein; Representative Ryan Mackenzie (R), Pennsylvania House of Representatives; and Representative Mari Manoogian (D), Michigan House of Representatives, on April 21, 2021. While global challenges are addressed by national governments, increasingly subnational actors such as states, communities, and cities have needed to step up to take action when traditional nation-states have been unable to make progress due to political polarization and partisan gridlock. This trend has also characterized transatlantic relations and the German-American partnership. It holds true for states in both countries addressing the challenges posed by climate change and thinking about energy policy. How do federal policies, or lack thereof, influence policies at the state level? What incentives can states provide, but what also are the constraints to making policy and taking action? How are states integrating climate and energy policies into construction and urban development, economic development and job creation opportunities? What efforts are states making to move towards a clean energy economy? The panelists discussed these and other questions with all participants.
This event is part of the State-to-State: German-American State Legislator Dialogue which the Aspen Institute Germany and the American Council on Germany have launched to provide a platform for subnational exchange amongst German and American state legislators and a broader audience on common transatlantic challenges. The project builds on Aspen Germany’s Laboratories of Democracy Initiative, a transatlantic exchange program for German and American state legislators.
