Right now, policymakers at all levels are debating how to help halt climate change, promote renewable energy, and encourage energy efficiency. 

• Deciding on emission reduction targets. The main point of climate policy is to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases, in particular C02.
  
  The IPCC has established the need to prevent the global average temperature from rising 2°C above pre-industrial levels. Temperature rise beyond this point runs extremely dangerous risks, such as total melting of ice sheets, sea level rise up to 40 feet, skyrocketing numbers of refugees, compromises to food systems, increased disease and insect vectors, etc.
  
  To achieve this target, total GHGs in the atmosphere must remain at or below 450 parts per million. To meet its share of this goal, by 2050 the U.S. would have to reduce emissions by at least 80 percent below 2000 levels.
  Currently, U.S. emissions continue to grow. 
  
  
• How to make the reductions. The goal of 80% reductions is enormous. In order to meet it, everyone will have to cooperate. Policy solutions exist at many different levels.
  

  Global. The United Nations (especially through the IPCC) and the World Bank have identified climate change as a major priority.
  International. Various groups of countries (such as the European Union) have met to discuss shared reduction targets, or signed pacts such as the Kyoto Protocol.
  
  Federal. The U.S. government could consider several approaches to climate policy - a federal Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS), a carbon tax, a mandatory cap and trade emissions trading system, and increasing funds for watershed and soil conservation as well as forestry.
  
  Regional. There are growing numbers of pacts among states as well as cooperation through governors associations to fight climate change and encourage renewable energy.
  
  States. States have several tools to implement climate policy. According to the Pew Center, only fourteen states (including Kansas, Nebraska, and Oklahoma) have not begun climate action plans. The other 36 have either finished or have the process underway. More than 24 states also have mandatory state RPS, and three (including Missouri) have voluntary agreements.
  
  Other state policy options include public benefit funds, standardizing and enforcing building codes, and integrating climate and energy issues into the educational system (from a youth curriculum, to vo-tech training that teaches energy efficiency techniques to construction and home maintenance personnel).
  
  Watersheds and soil conservation districts, counties and municipalities, school boards… at all levels of human political organization, it is possible to consider climate-friendly options. Decisions at the local level are especially important in increasing energy efficiency, preserving wildlife habitat, and containing sprawl.