FFST Open Press

U.S. presidential campaigns over the past decade have been fluid moments for climate policy, consisting of both challenges and opportunities. This paper examines U.S. public opinion toward climate policy, how presidential campaigns have addressed this issue over the past decade, and the implications for the American pursuit of the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals. The paper focuses on the interplay of U.S. public opinion, campaign messaging and appeals, and the institutional dynamics of federal policymaking in relation to environmental protection, economic growth, and social inclusion.