Elite Opinion and Decision-making on Climate Change in the US

• In Event: The Dynamics of Climate Policy Support in the US

Abstract

Climate scientists have emphasized the need for urgent adaptation and mitigation policy to avoid and address potentially catastrophic impacts of climate change. However, the US has lagged in this area with the federal government being largely inactive, and varying levels of efforts from states and cities. Our study examines elite-level opinion and decision-making on climate change, analyzing public communications and voting records from governors and Congressional representatives to evaluate elites’ stated views on climate change, and their support for adaptation or mitigation-focused policies. We examine differences between partisan elites in both their acknowledgement or endorsement of the scientific consensus on climate change, their willingness to acknowledge climate change in the context of energy or disaster policies, and their preferences for adaptation or mitigation-focused policies.

Authors

• Salil Deepak Benegal, DePauw University

• Lyle A. Scruggs