Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin announced steps this week to roll back environmental regulations — including rules affecting pollution from vehicles and coal-fired power plants — and to strike a scientific finding on climate change.
Talbot Andrews studies how policy design and the changing environment interact with individual’s attitudes to shape their behavior related to environmental policy.
Andrews says: “Even if some voters cheer in the short term for rolling back the EPA’s fight against climate change, those in office should worry about what this will do to their chances on election day.
“Rolling back these regulations will reduce the quality of life for everyday Americans. Even if they don’t believe in climate change, voters suffering from worse air quality and more frequent and severe climate disaster will want to hold their elected officials accountable.
“Renewable energy’s success, especially in red states, continues despite climate change denial in part because it delivers local economic and environmental benefits.”
For interviews contact Jeff Tyson, cell: (607) 793-5769, jeff.tyson@cornell.edu.
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