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Policy or scientific messaging? Strategic framing in a case of subnational climate change conflict

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  • Heather W. Cann

Abstract

Climate change and the implementation of climate‐energy policies remains highly contentious in the United States. Prior research makes clear that the way polices are “framed” powerfully shapes how they are conceptualized. This article explores framing dynamics within a 2015–2016 case of subfederal climate‐energy policy conflict in the state of Illinois, which culminated with the passage of the Future Energy Jobs Act: legislation that contained significant environmental initiatives. I investigate this episode through a process tracing case study, incorporating qualitative content analysis and semi‐structured interviews with stakeholders. Results suggest that stakeholders strategically framed their policies in terms of economic benefits, and other aspects of a policy's design, as opposed to focusing on climate change or climate science. In this way, Illinois was able to pass a comprehensive climate‐energy policy with bipartisan support—an outcome infrequently seen in other states around the country. 气候变化和气候‐能源政策的执行一直是美国的高度热点议题。以往研究主张，政策的“建构”方式能强烈影响其如何被概念化。本文探究了2015‐2016年伊利诺伊州气候‐能源政策冲突的建构动态，该冲突在《未来能源工作法案》（Future Energy Jobs Act）通过时最为激烈：该法案涉及大量能源倡议计划。通过一项过程追踪案例研究，包括定性内容分析和针对利益攸关方的半结构化访谈，我对该案例加以分析。分析结果暗示，利益攸关方从策略上对各自政策的经济利益方面以及政策设计的其他方面加以建构，而不是聚焦于气候变化或气候科学。如此一来，伊利诺伊州能够在两党支持下通过一项全面的气候‐能源政策—这一结果在其他州是不常见的。 El cambio climático y la implementación de políticas climáticas y energéticas sigue siendo muy polémico en los Estados Unidos. Investigaciones anteriores dejan en claro que la forma en que se "enmarcan" las políticas da forma poderosamente a cómo se conceptualizan. Este artículo explora la dinámica de encuadre dentro de un caso de conflicto subfederal de política energética y climática en el estado de Illinois entre 2015 y 2016, que culminó con la aprobación de la Ley de Empleos de Energía Futura: legislación que contenía iniciativas ambientales importantes. Investigo este episodio a través de un estudio de caso de seguimiento de procesos, que incorpora análisis de contenido cualitativo y entrevistas semiestructuradas con las partes interesadas. Los resultados sugieren que las partes interesadas enmarcaron estratégicamente sus políticas en términos de beneficios económicos y otros aspectos del diseño de una política, en lugar de centrarse en el cambio climático o la ciencia climática. De esta manera, Illinois pudo aprobar una política integral de clima y energía con apoyo bipartidista, un resultado que se ve con poca frecuencia en otros estados del país.

Suggested Citation

  • Heather W. Cann, 2021. "Policy or scientific messaging? Strategic framing in a case of subnational climate change conflict," Review of Policy Research, Policy Studies Organization, vol. 38(5), pages 570-595, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:revpol:v:38:y:2021:i:5:p:570-595
    DOI: 10.1111/ropr.12438
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Temirlan T. Moldogaziev & Rachel M. Krause & Gwen Arnold & Le Ahn Nguyen Long & Tatyana Ruseva & Chris Silvia & Christopher Witko, 2023. "Support for the environment post‐transition? Material concerns and policy tradeoffs," Review of Policy Research, Policy Studies Organization, vol. 40(2), pages 186-206, March.
    2. Nils C. Bandelow & Johanna Hornung & Ilana Schröder & Colette S. Vogeler, 2021. "Decarbonization and climate change," Review of Policy Research, Policy Studies Organization, vol. 38(6), pages 754-756, November.

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