How State and Local Governments Can Fight Climate Change

Articles/Websites

Grades9, 10, 11, 12Civics

Scientist Reviewed

Provided by Council on Foreign Relations

Open Resource

What it is

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 tips

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.

From the scientist review

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.

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At a glance

Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12
Subjects: Civics
Other types: Data, Graphs, and Maps
Language: English
Location: North America > United States
Provider: Council on Foreign Relations
Authors: Council on Foreign Relations
Published: December 13, 2025
Last updated: July 16, 2026
: Reviewed by our climate scientists How we review

Standards alignment · D2.Civ.13.9-12 + 3 more

Core

College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) Standards

D2.Civ.13.9-12Evaluate public policies in terms of intended and unintended outcomes, and related consequences.
D2.Civ.11.9-12.Evaluate multiple procedures for making governmental decisions at the local, state, national, and international levels in terms of the civic purposes achieved.
D2.Eco.1.9-12.Analyze how incentives influence choices that may result in policies with a range of costs and benefits for different groups.

Maine Climate Education Hub

Social Studies

Civics& Government 1 (D1): Students understand the ideals, purposes, principles, structures, and processes of constitutional government in the United States and in the American political system, as well as examples of other forms of government and political systems in the world by evaluating and comparing the relationship of citizens with government in the United States and other regions of the world.

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