Super PACs and climate change denial

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to illustrate the influential role of Political Action Committees (PACs) and more specifically the so-called“SuperPACs”inclimatechangedenialwithin the United States. The decision of the US Supreme Court in the case Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission in 2010, followed by a lower court ruling over the case SpeechNow.org v. FEC, created the foundations for the emergence of Super PACs. Their large-scale involvement, asserting a corporate agenda, is reflected in the political decision-making process and its outcomes. Within the United States, politics is the main arenashapingpeople’sbeliefsabouttheeffectsofclimatechange,withroughly38%of Americans expressing some interest in the issue of global climate change even as 26% say they care not too much or not at all about the issue. By analyzing empirical data (including public opinion polls) and industry/issue related expenditures made by PACs and Super PACs, the paper attempts to show the effect of these corporate-financed Political Action Committees not just on policy development and decision-making, but also on public perceptions and opinions.