Date of Award
Spring 5-31-2019
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelor of arts (BA)
Department
Global Honors
First Advisor
Dr. Elizabeth Bruch
Abstract
Climate change is one of the preeminent concerns of our time. As nation-states around the world face rising sea levels, pollution, political instability, and a rise of national security concerns due to climate instability, greater international cooperation is needed in order to target and adapt to cross-border issues. However, international political action is often reliant upon a national support for that action, especially when national officials rely on the support of their citizenry, such as in democracies, like the United States.
In order to understand how countries such as the United States make decisions on the domestic and international level, the feasibility of environmentally-focused political decision making must be understood. By conducting interviews with six policy makers at different levels of political decision making, and conducting quantitative research surveys of 755 Washingtonians, the perspectives of constituants and policy makers can be better understood. Together, this research identifies the feasibility of additional environmental regulation at local, state, regional, national, and international levels, as well as understanding the interdisciplinary connections in environmental decision making, with hopes of creating a more sustainable and stable earth.
Recommended Citation
Dickson, Rebecca, "Bridging Gaps Between Constituents and Policymakers in Climate Policy in Washington State" (2019). Global Honors Theses. 75.
https://digitalcommons.tacoma.uw.edu/gh_theses/75
Included in
American Politics Commons, Defense and Security Studies Commons, Economic Policy Commons, Emergency and Disaster Management Commons, Environmental Law Commons, Environmental Policy Commons, Environmental Studies Commons, International Law Commons, International Relations Commons, Political Economy Commons, Public Policy Commons
Comments
I would like to thank several individuals for their dedicated assistance and support during the process of this project. First, I would like to thank my primary faculty advisor, Dr. Elizabeth Bruch, and my research partner, Grace McKenney for their dedicated support and assistance in this project process. Secondly, I would like to thank the Bamford Foundation for their financial support of this thesis and the Institute for Global Engagement for providing administrative support throughout this project. Thirdly, I would like to thank Dr. Will McGuire and Dr. Tom Koontz for their support and feedback throughout this process. Finally, I would like to thank Dr. Divya McMillin, Alexis Wheeler, Lynn Hermanson, Dr. Joanne Clarke Dillman, and Dr. Ben Meiches for their support of this project for the past year.