How State and Local Governments Can Fight Climate Change
Provided by: Council on Foreign Relations|Published on: December 13, 2025|Last updated: September 26, 2026
Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12
Type: Articles/Websites
Subjects: Civics
Authors: Council on Foreign Relations
Location: North America > United States
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Synopsis
- In this article from the Council on Foreign Relations Education, students will examine how federal, state, and local governments in the United States address climate change.
- Students will learn how authority, responsibility, and policy tools differ across levels of government and shape climate action.
Teaching Materials
Positives
- The article clearly distinguishes the roles of different levels of government, helping students understand federalism in the context of climate policy.
- Short sections and concrete examples make it easy to connect governance structures to real-world climate actions.
Prerequisites
- Students should have prior knowledge of basic U.S. government structure, including the division of powers between federal, state, and local levels.
Differentiation & Implementation
- Teachers may pair this reading with a case study of a specific climate policy to help students apply abstract governance concepts. Students can also use this resource to find a policy that is specific to their state.
- This resource supports connections to SDG 13 (Climate Action) by highlighting how government decisions influence mitigation and adaptation efforts.
- To demonstrate their understanding, students can create an informative poster that clearly explains how federal, state, and local governments can encourage or discourage climate action.
This resource presents a nuanced view of how every level of government in the US can act to fight climate change. This article is well-sourced, with sources linked in the text, and all vocabulary is clearly defined. A clear both/and approach is taken to presenting climate mitigation and adaptation, rather than focusing on one. This resource is recommended for teaching.
Teaching Tips
Standards
Resource Type and Format
Scientist Reviewed
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Our review process ensures that every resource in our library reflects the current state of climate science.
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