A spatial analysis of local climate change policy in the United States: Risk, stress, and opportunity

This study examines the factors motivating local jurisdictions in the United States (U.S.) to voluntarily adopt policies that mitigate the anthropogenic sources of climate change when there are powerful political and economic incentives to do otherwise. Specifically, we explain adoption of the Cities for Climate Protection (CCP) program at the county level with indicators of climate change risk, climate stress, and opportunity for climate policy action. Statistical and spatial results indicate that counties with high risk, low stress, and high opportunity characteristics associated with climate change are significantly more likely to join the CCP campaign. Results also show that the odds of a locality joining the CCP are predictable by the landscape characteristics of spatial neighbors. Identifying a profile for likely adoption of climate change mitigation strategies can help decision makers effectively target local jurisdictions for recruitment into the CCP and similar programs in the future.