New Study Examines U.S. Climate Policy Gridlock and Local Rebellion

A new journal article co-authored by Professor John Byrne, Dr. Job Taminiau, and Joseph Nyangon explores the persistent challenges of U.S. climate policy and the rise of alternative, decentralized efforts to address the crisis. Published in Energy Research & Social Science, the paper, “American Policy Conflict in the Hothouse: Exploring the Politics of Climate Inaction and Polycentric Rebellion”, investigates why national climate initiatives repeatedly stall despite mounting evidence of urgent environmental risks.

The authors highlight a long-standing cycle: while federal administrations propose ambitious climate goals—such as the Biden Administration’s 2021 plan to achieve net-zero emissions in the U.S. energy sector by mid-century—opposition parties frequently block implementation. This partisan gridlock has perpetuated U.S. failure to sustain coherent, effective climate action.

Yet, the study finds hope in a “polycentric” counterforce. Alliances of social movements, local governments, and state-level actors are creating and enforcing policies that surpass national targets, guided by social justice and moral responsibility. The research provides empirical evidence of these decentralized efforts’ transformative potential on U.S. energy-climate-society relations.

Drs. Byrne, Taminiau, and Nyangon offer a theory explaining why national climate action falters and how polycentric governance can drive meaningful change. Their work underscores the critical role of local leadership and community mobilization in overcoming political inertia and advancing climate solutions.

The full article is openly accessible in Energy Research & Social Science under a Creative Commons license: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2022.102551.