California Greenin'

A political history of environmental policy and regulation in California, from the Gold Rush to the presentOver the course of its 150-year history, California has successfully protected its scenic wilderness areas, restricted coastal oil drilling, regulated automobile emissions, preserved coastal access, improved energy efficiency, and, most r

“"Winner of the Lynton Keith Caldwell Prize, Science, Technology, and Environmental Politics Section of the American Political Science Association"”

"[A] truly fabulous book, one of the best I’ve read this year."---Alice Evans, London School of Economics Review of Books
"So, while California Greenin’ is a must read, expect more scholarship on this intriguing and important subject."---Thomas J. Osborne, Environmental History

David Vogel is professor emeritus in the Haas School of Business and the Department of Political Science at the University of California, Berkeley. His many books include The Politics of Precaution (Princeton) and The Market for Virtue.

"David Vogel's thoughtful, engaging historical work explains how California evolved into an environmental policy leader, as competing economic interests and unusual alliances came together in reaction to serious pollution problems and threats to California's scenic beauty. This is a timely book for all who want to understand why California is at the forefront of current national efforts to slow climate change and protect the environment." --Bruce Cain, Stanford University "David Vogel pioneered the term 'California effect' and demonstrated its enormous impact on numerous areas of environmental policy. This important book explains the historical and political factors that have underpinned the Golden State's enduring commitment to environmental protection and that continue to position it for national and global influence." --Barry Rabe, University of Michigan "Timely and significant, California Greenin' examines why the state's environmental policies have long been so distinctive and influential. David Vogel offers insights into how California managed the tension between economic growth and environmental protection during the postwar era, and how other U.S. states can develop innovative environmental policies at a time when Washington politicians are seeking to roll back environmental standards." --Eric Patashnik, Brown University "A comprehensive look at California's pioneering environmental and energy policy accomplishments, California Greenin' offers the first persuasive explanation for the aggressive and sometimes risky stands the state's political leaders have taken to protect air, water, and natural lands. This brisk book is a much-needed primer on the role of regulation in delivering major improvements in quality of life." --Mary D. Nichols, chair of the California Air Resources Board "Inspired by California's geography, a mobilized citizenry and frequently cooperative business community joined together to protect the Golden State's natural treasures--and this long tradition of strong environmental protection has contributed to the state's economic success. Vogel's provocative history of the California model shows a way forward to a greener future." --Eric Rauchway, author of The Money Makers "Although much has been written about the history of environmental policy and environmentalism in California, I am not aware of any single book that presents such a broad scope in terms of time (150+ years) and issue areas (mining, forests, coasts, water, air quality, and climate change). Readers will learn a tremendous amount about how natural resource management and environmental and energy policy have developed in California." --David M. Konisky, coauthor of Cheap and Clean "Assessing a range of cases within California, Vogel argues that three state-level factors help account for the emergence of strong environmental regulations: citizen mobilization, business support, and regulatory capacity. The lessons from this book provide opportunities for scholars and practitioners to foster meaningful global change through local policies. This is a wonderful, powerful, and important book." --Benjamin Cashore, Yale University

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