With a book due to be published in September, Professor Smith has begun a new book project titled “Taking Climate Change Seriously.” The project begins with the observation that many of the people working to prevent action on climate change are actually environmentalists. While environmentalists want society to shift away from using fossil fuels for energy, they are resistant to many of the alternative ideas (wind, solar, and nuclear energy sources) for a variety of reasons. They don’t like to build wind farms near bird habitats or in places that would ruin the view. They resist building solar farms in the desert because of the endangered and threatened species and the aesthetic harm, but they also don’t want too many of them in cities such as Los Angeles.

Environmentalists care about climate change, but they also care about other issues as well, and climate change often ends up the loser in policy disputes. Professor Smith’s research shows that it is possible to address climate change, but compromises must be made.

Eric R.A.N. Smith is a Professor of Political Science and is affiliated with the Bren School of Environmental Science & Management and the Environmental Studies Program. Professor Smith’s research focuses on environmental politics, public opinion, and elections. His latest book ‘The Politics of Energy Crises’ was co-authored with three former graduate students (Juliet Carlisle, Jessica Feezell, and Kristy Michaud) and will be published by Oxford University Press this fall.