Essays on Climate Change Adaptation, Mitigation, and Communication

Abstract

In this dissertation, I study approaches to adapt cities to climate change, mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, and communicate climate change to the public. I investigate these topics through data-driven economic models. First, I examine the cumulative effectiveness of green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) on water quality indicators of receiving water bodies of Seattle, Washington. I use a Bayesian structural time series model and synthetic control method to estimate counterfactual levels of water quality indicators in absence of GSI. Second, I use precinct level voting data as well as climate related weather events to examine the relationship between personal experience with climate change and revealed support for two carbon pricing initiatives in Washington State using spatial regression models. I explore the heterogeneous effect of political orientation and geographical location on support for these policy proposals. Third, I study the potential mediating role of media between personal experience and concerns about climate change and stated support for climate mitigation policies. Using a panel data of county-level survey responses in nine western states and climate-related weather events in those counties, I perform mediation analysis models and further explore the heterogeneous effects between Democratic-leaning and Republican-leaning counties. I highlight the policy and communication implications of the findings in this dissertation.