Why Hotter Districts Spark Climate Legislation: Partisan Responses to Local Temperature Anomalies

This study examines agenda setting behavior regarding climate change bills in U.S. state legislatures, focusing on local temperature effects.

Data & Methods:

• Created an original data set mapping climate anomalies at the state legislative district level.
• Incorporates individual (legislator), chamber (House/Senate), district, and state characteristics to predict bill sponsorship behavior.
• Utilizes a multilevel model analyzing 25,000 legislators from 2011-2015 regarding climate change bill sponsorship.

Key Findings:

📊 Temperature Anomalies: Significant local temperature changes correlated with increased climate bill sponsorship among Democratic members but not Republican members.

🔍 Partisan Contrast: Democrats responded to these localized climate cues, while Republicans did not show responsiveness.

Real-World Significance:

• Demonstrates how local-level data can illuminate state legislative processes.
• Suggests motivations behind state-level climate innovation may be partisan and locally influenced.