Effective climate policy should make people partners, not the enemy

For decades, the underlying assumption of Washington’s environmental policy has been that politicians must dictate the rules to the public, creating regulations that force citizens to change. That top-down mindset is borne of the 1970s. Today, there are new options that are more effective, less harsh, and less expensive.

The sharp contrast between the old, coercive approach and new, collaborative stewardship is being played out right now in Washington’s energy policy.

To achieve Washington’s CO2-reduction goals, there are two competing approaches. One strategy engages the public and makes them...