CLIMATE POLICY: PUBLIC OPINION’S ROLE IN SHAPING OUR FUTURE IN THE UNITED STATES

Abstract

In the United States, public perceptions regarding climate change have become more sophisticated, more supportive, and more anxious in response to our collective inaction. Unlike many other issues that the US currently faces, climate change disguises its damages as a delayed reckoning, and policy advancements contribute diffused benefits while facing localized opposition. The complexity of solving the climate crisis in the US is in the hands of a multitude of players involved in the implementation process. Fossil fuel and utility companies, along with their consumers and employees, compete tirelessly against environmental advocacy groups, the public, and legislators. These political battles combine with geographic and economic hurdles to create one of the most heavily contested political arenas in America. The unusual nature of the issue further complicates the political processes for reaching desired emissions levels, enacting renewable energy projects, and authorizing new environmental regulations. With geographical, demographical, and political diversity neutralizing the federal government’s ability to issue nationwide programs, the States themselves are America’s best platform for passing new climate legislation. This paper delves into the relationship between regional public opinion data and its ability to influence climate policy adoption at the state level in the United States.