Opinion: Climate policy needs more than muddling

More than half a century ago political scientist Charles Lindblom (1) argued that a policy of “muddling through” with incremental steps is frequently superior to attempting to design and implement comprehensive policy solutions. After decades of talk the world is finally showing signs of muddling its way toward a range of policies to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide. The recent Paris accord will require nations to regularly report on their emissions and plans, and hence take more seriously the need for abatement (2). Incremental steps toward reducing emissions in the United States include the switch to natural gas and the implementation of the Clean Power Plan for existing power plants (www.epa.gov/cleanpowerplan/what-epa-doing). Outside the United States, the ongoing efforts of the European Union, the agreement between the United States and China (3), and efforts to limit emissions from aircraft and ocean shipping (4), are also promising incremental steps.