How Partisanship Is Holding Back Climate Action

Guest

David Spence

Rex G. Baker Chair in Natural Resources Law in the School of Law, University of Texas at Austin

It’s no secret that Republicans and Democrats don’t see eye to eye on climate change.

According to a Pew Research Survey conducted earlier this year, just 12% of Republicans and Republican-leaners think climate change should be a top priority for the president and Congress. Meanwhile, the official 2024 Democratic party platform states there’s “nothing more important than addressing the climate crisis.”

Energy and environmental law professor David Spence says today’s news and social media are partly responsible for the divide.

In his new book, “Climate of Contempt: How to Rescue the U.S. Energy Transition from Voter Partisanship,” which is part of CGEP’s book series, David argues it’s all but impossible for the government to take significant action to address global warming in a media environment focused on persuading more than educating.

This week host Bill Loveless talks with David about his book and his perspective on the ideological polarization and negative partisanship that’s been building in the U.S. in the past 10-15 years. And how he believes getting us all offline and engaging with each other in person can help push regulatory politics forward.

David is the Rex G. Baker Chair in Natural Resources Law in the School of Law at the University of Texas at Austin. He’s also a professor of business, government, and society in the McCombs School of Business at UT Austin, where he teaches courses in energy and environmental regulation. And he’s co-author of a leading casebook “Energy, Economics, and the Environment.”

Our Work

Relevant
Publications

Climate Change

Climate of Contempt

Why is the United States struggling to enact policies to reduce carbon emissions? Conventional wisdom holds that the wealthy and powerful are to blame, as the oligarchs and corporations that wield disproportionate sway over politicians prioritize their short-term financial interests over the climate’s long-term health.

Books by David Spence • September 11, 2024

Purchase Book

Energy Policy

In Venezuela’s Election, Energy and Climate Policies Are Also at Stake

Op-eds & Essays by Luisa Palacios • Americas Quarterly • July 24, 2024

Geopolitics

Green Peace | How the Fight Against Climate Change Can Overcome Geopolitical Discord

Op-eds & Essays by Jason Bordoff & Meghan L. O'Sullivan • Foreign Affairs • June 18, 2024

Renewable Energy

Assessing the Impact of Climate Variability on Wind Energy Potential in Decarbonization Scenarios in Energy Systems Models

External Publications by Lewis (Zhaoyu) Wu • Springer • June 13, 2024

See All Work

Morningside Campus Access and Status Updates

By Topics

By Regions

By Type

Initiatives

Programs

Partnerships

About

MIssion

People