Climate Change legislation: A Comparative Study of the legal framework of the United States and Pakistan

Abstract

This study is an endeavor to analyze the climate change legislative framework of the United States and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.  It thoroughly looks into the unique local circumstances of these two nations; particularly the political landscape, historical background, and economic capability that influence legislative responses to a global challenge. It employs a qualitative research method on the one hand and comparative on the other, and examines primary legal texts, existing secondary literature, and the landmark judicial decisions. The study fundamentally revolves around two main questions. Firstly, it deals with the question of how the distinct political landscapes and historical contexts of the two countries have shaped the development and implementation of their respective climate change legislation.  Secondly, it explores the reciprocal lessons for each nation with respect to the climate framework of the other.  The study also highlights the major divergences in the two frameworks, like the United States' decentralized and multi-scalar governance model and Pakistan’s transition from a centralized to a decentralized structure, especially after the 18th constitutional Amendment. Finally, it concludes that though climate legislation is a global matter, its implementation remains intensely localized.