Energy Transition Discussion Series: Climate of Contempt

Why is the United States struggling to enact policies to reduce carbon emissions? Conventional wisdom blames the wealthy and powerful, who wield disproportionate sway over politicians. David B. Spence argues that this top-down narrative misses a more important culprit-with critical consequences for climate and energy politics.

His bottom-up explanation pinpoints the roles of partisanship, polarization, and misinformation, showing how voter animosity holds back the energy transition by making compromise politically risky. Spence contends that cooperation is still possible but will require sustained person-to-person engagement across ideological and partisan boundaries.

Providing a timely and incisive understanding of the politics of the energy transition, Climate of Contempt suggests new paths forward and offers hope for a net-zero future.

SPEAKERS:

David Spence, Rex G. Baker Chair in Natural Resources Law in the School of Law and Professor of Business, Government & Society in the McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas at Austin

Jack Lienke, Associate Professor at the University of Connecticut, School of Law

Katrina M. Wyman, Wilf Family Professor of Property Law and Director, Environmental and Energy Law LLM Program

CLE Credit Pending Approval