Democratic Participation Towards Clean Energy

Across the world, and throughout the United States, communities are grappling with the growing fallout of climate induced disasters and ecological change. In trying to combat these issues, popular input and buy-in are essential. Many marginalized communities have been, both explicitly and implicitly, excluded from policy discussions surrounding climate reforms. And yet, because of the existential nature of the climate crisis and the protracted reality of democratic participation, the goals of democracy and the climate can also conflict with each other. NIMBYism can serve to blunt local climate reforms. Developed nations can use referendums and democratic initiatives to promote nationalistic or even xenophobic responses to ecological crises. And local communities can have mixed reactions to top-down interventions. All of this presents a unique challenge in figuring out how to tackle climate change moving forward.