Season 1, Episode 10: Leah Stokes

 
 

Oct. 29, 2020

Voters are Stoked on clean energy as the climate crisis solution.

Leah Stokes has burst onto the scene as one of America’s leading experts on voting behavior and public policy as they relate to the climate crisis and renewable energy. She’s an assistant professor of political science at the University of California at Santa Barbara, where she’s also affiliated with the Bren School of Environmental Science & Management and the Environmental Studies Department. Stokes’ research regularly appears in top-tier academic journals; her opinion pieces and articles have been published in leading media outlets, including The New York Times, Vox, The Boston Globe, The Guardian, CNN.com and the Los Angeles Times. And for good reason. Leah’s research has put her finger on the pulse of what American voters want from their leaders on energy and climate change policy. Her recent book, Short Circuiting Policy, exposes how electric utilities have taken money from their monopolized customers and used it to undermine clean energy standards while jacking up rates.

In this episode, Leah walks us through the latest research on voters’ thinking on environmental issues and explains why she enthusiastically supports Joe Biden’s climate and jobs plan. She also explains the corrupt currents running through the nation’s electricity and political systems, as well as what to do about it. And she encourages us to remember that the environmental movement is broad and diverse, and that the best policy solutions are the ones that are inclusive and promote justice.

Want to get more involved in the 2020 elections? It’s not too late to volunteer and/or donate. At the end of our conversation with Leah, listeners are directed to several organizations that are engaged in grassroots voter work. Or click on the show notes and scroll down to “Get involved in the elections.”

headshot of Leah Stokes
“We have a once in a generation opportunity here, and really a once in a century opportunity, or once in a millennium, if we’re really thinking about climate change. This election means so much.”
— Leah Stokes

Show Notes

Connect with Leah: Twitter | Website | LinkedIn | ENVENT Lab 

Attributing extreme weather events to climate change: ENVENT Lab Climate Fact Sheets

Books: Short Circuiting Policy |  All We Can Save (contributor)

A Matter of Degrees Podcast: Website | Apple Podcasts | Google | Spotify

Leah’s popular media writing: All of her op eds and popular media articles can be found on Leah’s website or linked below.