The science is clear: we need to cut carbon pollution in half this decade to have a chance to limit global warming to 1.5 °C. We have the knowledge, technology, and public support to meet this target, but the current global patchwork of commitments and policies don’t add up to
enough action. Understanding the forces blocking ambitious climate action requires an evidence-grounded analysis of how political power is generated, distributed and wielded in the energy system. Political scientists view climate policymaking as a struggle between fossil fuel opponents and clean economy advocates. They tackle core questions relevant to climate outcomes: under what conditions will clean economy advocates gain power, and fossil fuels opponents lose power? What strategies and interventions can create these conditions? Answering these questions requires us to think precisely about how political power works.

Authors: Dr. Leah C. Stokes, Dr. Matto Mildenberger, Dr. Paasha Mahdavi, & Lucas Boyd