Planetizen, September 2021
We talk about the power of cities to act aggressively on climate change and equity, but there are many barriers to action. Republican state legislatures, acting to slow down or altogether stop environmental action, are one of the biggest barriers. The Republican party, which historically has advocated for state and local control, has changed its tune in state legislatures as more cities are controlled by Democrats.
Their main tool is preemption—laws by state legislatures that nullify an existing municipal or county ordinance. State legislatures can also create new laws that stop environmental action in its tracks.
