Institutions & Effective
Climate Action

Exploring the dynamics of institutions in shaping climate action and policy.

cover photo with mountains

About

We examine how public

perception varies when learning

about climate risks and policies

from different institutions.

We experimentally assess public responses to international vs. national experts, diverse government levels (local, regional, national), and private actors (insurers, corporations) on climate policy.

We explore how legal institutions create challenges and opportunities for climate action.

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Publications


Beliefs, Information, and Institutions: Public Perception of Climate Change Information Provided by Government vs. the Market

2022—2023 | Cherie Metcalf & Jonathan Nash

Carbon Pricing & Constitutional Change

2023 | Cherie Metcalf

The Pandemic & Beyond: Federalism Faces Existential Threats

2021 | Cherie Metcalf & Meghan Huskisson-Snider

Communicating Risk across the Political Divide

2023— | Cherie Metcalf & Jonathan Nash

Institutions, Perceptions & Adaptation to Extreme Climate Risks

2023— | Cherie Metcalf & Amanda Nurse

The Corporation & the Fallacy of the Public-Private Divide

2023— | Cherie Metcalf

Beliefs, Information, and Institutions: Public Perception of Climate Change Information Provided by Government vs. the Market cover photo

Abstract

Despite scientific consensus over the threat posed by climate change, governmental actions remain modest or stalled, often because of profound societal polarization: more liberal individuals tend to accept climate change as real, anthropogenic, and as posing a substantial (if not existential) threat, while more conservative individuals tend to doubt such assertions. The standard explanation for this phenomenon is that liberals tend to believe government-provided information-as information about climate change tends

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Conference


International & Comparative
Perspectives

Bringing together researchers from Canada, Europe and the United States to consider how law and legal institutions can better support climate action.

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In the Media


Team members featured in local, national and international news outlets and other media contributions.

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People in communities threatened by natural disasters might have to consider moving, minister says. cover photo

People in communities threatened by natural disasters might have to consider moving, minister says.

How the Doug Ford government's Greenbelt bill aims to quash $120M lawsuit cover photo

How the Doug Ford government's Greenbelt bill aims to quash $120M lawsuit

Sponsors


This research is financially supported by: