Despite rising public concern about climate change and public responsiveness to climate signals, governments around the world have struggled to pass and implement climate policies. This is exacerbated in the United States, where rising partisan polarization over climate change–and environmental protection more broadly–has made climate policy enactment exceedingly difficult. Today, politicians and advocates are championing a new idea: linking climate policy to other economic and social reforms. Will this approach generate greater public support for climate action? Here, we test this coalition-building strategy. Using two conjoint experiments on a representative sample of 2,476 Americans, we evaluate the marginal impact of 40 different climate, social, and economic policies on support for climate reforms. Overall, we find climate policy bundles that include social and economic reforms such as affordable housing, a $15 minimum wage, or a job guarantee increase US public support for climate mitigation. Clean energy standards, regardless of which technologies are included, also make climate policy more popular. Linking climate policy to economic and social issues is particularly effective at expanding climate policy support among people of color.
Faculty, staff, students and the public are invited to come hear Dr. Parrish Bergquist speak on her research regarding climate policy and public opinion. There will be complimentary refreshments, CFEs available by request, and parking is available on the 3rd and 4th floors of the South Quad parking deck on Duncan Drive, directly across from the SFWS Building. See Parking Services on Level 2 to obtain a visitor pass.