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Muddling through Climate Change: A Qualitative Exploration of India and U.S. Climate Experts’ Perspectives on Solutions, Pathways, and Barriers

Author

Listed:
  • Landon Yoder

    (O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA)

  • Alora Cain

    (O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA)

  • Ananya Rao

    (O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA)

  • Nathaniel Geiger

    (The Media School, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA
    Communication and Media, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA)

  • Ben Kravitz

    (Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA
    Atmospheric, Climate, and Earth Sciences Division, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA 99352, USA)

  • Mack Mercer

    (O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA)

  • Deidra Miniard

    (O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA)

  • Sangeet Nepal

    (O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA)

  • Thomas Nunn

    (O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA)

  • Mary Sluder

    (O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA)

  • Grace Weiler

    (O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA)

  • Shahzeen Z. Attari

    (O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA)

Abstract

Climate solutions related to mitigation and adaptation vary across the United States and India, given their unique current socio-political–technological abilities and their histories. Here, we discuss results from online face-to-face interviews undertaken with 33 U.S.-based climate experts and 30 India-based climate experts. Using qualitative grounded theory, we explore open-ended responses to questions related to mitigation and adaptation and find the following: (1) there is broad agreement among experts in both countries on the main mitigation solutions focused on the decarbonization of energy systems, but (2) there are a diversity of views between experts on what to prioritize and how to achieve it. Similarly, there is substantial agreement that adaptation solutions are needed to address agriculture, water management, and infrastructure, but there is a wide variety of perspectives on other priorities and how best to proceed. Experts across both countries generally perceived mitigation as needing national policies to succeed, while adaptation is perceived as more local and challenging given the larger number of stakeholders involved in planning and implementation. Our findings indicate that experts agree on the goals of decarbonization, but there was no consensus on how best to accomplish implementation.

Suggested Citation

  • Landon Yoder & Alora Cain & Ananya Rao & Nathaniel Geiger & Ben Kravitz & Mack Mercer & Deidra Miniard & Sangeet Nepal & Thomas Nunn & Mary Sluder & Grace Weiler & Shahzeen Z. Attari, 2024. "Muddling through Climate Change: A Qualitative Exploration of India and U.S. Climate Experts’ Perspectives on Solutions, Pathways, and Barriers," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(13), pages 1-20, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:13:p:5275-:d:1419361
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    References listed on IDEAS

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