Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 2022, Public Policy and Management

Climate change, also referred to as global warming, is one of the defining challenges of the 21st century. Despite considerable evidence that climate change is occurring and has severe consequences, many Americans remain skeptical and are impeding efforts to address the problem. The purpose of this dissertation is to build an understanding of the determinants of climate change perceptions among climate skeptics. Specifically, this research explores the extent to which political communication affects climate skeptics' perceptions of the phenomenon. In total, three separate analyses were conducted using a national sample of climate skeptics (N = 4,001). The first analysis provides a profile of the average climate skeptic. Using descriptive data and responses from an open-ended question, the study provides a bird's-eye view of the factors that might contribute to individual perceptions of climate change. The findings confirm those of existing research; particularly that climate skepticism is more prevalent among Republicans, older populations, low-income individuals, and those who identify as evangelical. Individuals report being skeptical of climate change because they believe that the narrative around climate change only advances the interests of elites. Individuals also cite factors such as media coverage, awareness of historical data, first-hand experiences with local weather, knowledge of the phenomenon (or lack thereof), and belief in a higher power as reasons for their climate skepticism. The second analysis employs a randomized survey experiment to examine whether framing climate messages as optimistic or fatalistic (i.e., the phenomenon is unstoppable by human action) affects the perceptions of climate skeptics (N = 827). The results show that the framing of an issue does not influence climate skeptics' beliefs that (1) climate change is occurring or (2) that the phenomenon poses a risk of personal harm. Partisanship, however, does appear to moderate th (open full item for complete abstract)

Master of Science (MS), Ohio University, 2018, Environmental Studies (Voinovich)

This project examines the variation in tribal climate adaptation plans and vulnerability assessments and the reasons behind it in terms of the processes of their formation. Four types of plans are known to exist in terms of who convened them: (1) inhouse (by the tribe), (2) plans done by university boundary organizations, (3) those convened by nonprofits, and (4) those convened by LLCs. Thirty- our such documents were known to exist as of December of 2017. Each vary widely in terms of content and depth, as well as representation and use of traditional knowledges. The methods for this project were a combination of content analysis of these plans (to assess plan outcome) and interviews of relevant planning participants (to assess process). Key factors found to have affected the content of these plans included the convening party, the presence of external partners, number of contributing sectors, and the pre-existing capacities of the differing tribes as measured by per capita income, population, and tribal government size. Specificity of the problem descriptions and solution sets within the documents were ranked on a 1-3 scale and tested against these and other factors. Key themes that emerged from the interviews were community engagement, the importance of proper identification of expertise, the impact of resource constraints on plan content, and the importance of the usage of traditional knowledge. The findings of this project highlight not only the differences in process that have led to the most robust plans, but also what makes a tribe able and willing to make its own climate plan. This will hence aid the goal of tribal self-determination. Additionally, this highlights the ways in which differing knowledge systems (including traditional knowledge systems) can be used in the context of formal climate planning, which has broad applications to not only tribal but state, local, and federal climate planning efforts.

Master of Arts, Miami University, 2022, Economics

International efforts to mitigate climate change constitute a global coordination game between world actors regarding their contribution to and prevention of a warming global environment. While national climate policy decisions are likely focused on domestic political pressures, a second driving force exists in this international coordination: climate policy adopted by each individual nation impacts the inherent payoff of policy decisions available to other nations. We study this coordination specifically between the United States (US) and the European Union (EU). Implementing an event study approach, our results indicate that US policies which loosen climate protections are associated with decreased market pricing for EU emissions allowance futures, while the opposite is true for US policies which tighten climate protections. We interpret these results as suggestive evidence that markets perceive the US and the EU to engage in a common interest game with respect to climate policy in which their policy decisions are strategic complements.

Bachelor of Arts (BA), Ohio University, 2021, Environmental Studies

“You have stolen my dreams and my childhood with your empty words. And yet I'm one of the lucky ones. People are suffering. People are dying. Entire ecosystems are collapsing. We are in the beginning of a mass extinction, and all you can talk about is money and fairy tales of eternal economic growth. How dare you?” Swedish teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg said this at the U.N.'s 2019 Climate Action Summit, and a video of her speech went viral across the internet. Her strong words and young age sparked a series of climate protests involving young people, called “School Strikes 4 Climate,” in 2018. Thousands of members of Generation Z participated in a worldwide school strike, joining Thunberg in her mission to thwart climate change, hold world leaders and polluters accountable, and create a global movement for change. Every young climate activist has a story that deserves to be listened to and learned from, in order to ensure their climate future is secure. Generation Z's climate activism is an important new phenomenon that is changing the landscape of climate activism and has the potential to change or influence policy across many scales. This project characterizes and analyzes climate activists to identify what is necessary to ensure that they have a secure climate future. Results of this thesis suggest that listening to the lived experiences of Generation Z will be crucial in looking towards a stable climate future. Their personal connections to visible effects of climate change, the uncertainty of their futures, their sense of community, their surprising view of older generations, their prioritization of intersectionality and social justice, and their unique sense of empowerment characterize them as a force that cannot be ignored.

Master of Science (MS), Wright State University, 2021, Human Factors and Industrial/Organizational Psychology MS

Though research has identified common outcomes of ethical work climates, less is known regarding its antecedents. Situational components such as ethics programs and individual, moral-related variables such as moral identity and moral attentiveness may influence the way employees perceive the ethical climate of their organization. I conducted t-tests and calculated bivariate correlations to determine if there were significant relationships between ethics program components, individual moral-related variables and ethical climate dimensions. My results (N = 422 recruited from Mechanical Turk) revealed that ethics program components and individual, moral-related variables are significantly related to multiple dimensions of ethical climate. Most significant relationships were observed when caring, law and code, and rules climate dimensions were the outcomes, suggesting conceptual overlap between these climate dimensions. Also, it is likely that climate dimensions influence the types of employees who are attracted and hired.

Bachelor of Arts, Wittenberg University, 2020, Political Science

Despite the scientific consensus that climate change is occurring, denial of this reality has persisted in the United States. While there are many possible explanations for this skepticism, one potential cause that has yet to be explored in detail is fear and its destabilizing influence on individuals' decision making processes. Prompted by concerns that addressing climate change will harm the economy, question free market ideology, and threaten the American way of life, it is argued in this paper that the emotional experiences prompted by these sources of fear can lead individuals to deny climate change. To test this hypothesis, National Election Studies survey data was used to gauge the covariation between climate denial and a variety of potential measures of fear. The results of these analyses demonstrate that both free market ideology and a desire to protect one's sense of American identity are associated with climate change denial, suggesting that these sources of fear must first be addressed in order to effectively communicate the risks of climate change to the American public.

Master of Science, The Ohio State University, 2018, Atmospheric Sciences

The need for good quality information on climate and its future changes have become increasingly important for Indonesian society. Of particular interest are analysis and predictions of rainfall at pertinent spatial scales. An option is the use of regional climate models as a physics-based downscaling tool to retrieve higher spatial resolution information from coarser present and future climate datasets. In order to verify that simulations provide added values that result in an appropriate representation of the state of climate at finer spatial resolutions, the adoption of regional climate models requires prior optimization. The performance of a regional climate model (WRF, Weather Research and Forecasting Model) in simulating precipitation over Indonesia is examined by a series of sensitivity experiments using different parameterized convective physics. Among tested schemes, the best performance is provided by the Betts-Miller-Janjic parameterization. Regional simulation results present some added value in simulating rainfall-related climate indices but show low skill in recreating the annual rainfall pattern. A series of regional climate simulations using the Betts-Miller-Janjic convective scheme forced by a future climate projection dataset show changes in rainfall aligned with previous studies.

Ph.D., Antioch University, 2018, Antioch New England: Environmental Studies

Research suggests an “Adaptation Deficit” exists in the realm of climate change mitigation and adaptation. There is a lack of climate adaptation goals, policies and projects implemented at the local level. Climate resilience relies on effective public engagement to ensure implementation. This type of engagement includes: (1) being aware of the issue and solutions; (2) feeling concerned about the problem; and (3) taking action. This research explores the impact of in situ 3D landscape visualization coupled with meaningful dialogue, on public engagement for climate change resilience. A mixed methods approach was used to undertake this research study using landscape visualization in an experiential outdoor setting in San Mateo County, California. San Mateo County was chosen as an optimal site for this research because of efforts underway to plan and prepare for sea level rise across the region. Since the research was part of a larger project with numerous stakeholders, many characteristics of Action Research (AR) were incorporated into the research design. This included working with local, regional, state and federal stakeholders to choose the exact site location, target audience, and project objectives to be accomplished from the research study. The overall goal of the project was to increase community concern about sea level rise and prompt target audience members to take an active role in their community on climate change adaptation. The research component of the project tested the use of landscape visualization to gauge impacts on concern and engagement levels, along with correlations between age, concern and engagement. The landscape visualization process used 3D imagery loaded into two viewfinders, called OWLS, that depicted current and future sea-level rise scenarios along with two possible solutions for Coyote Beach recreational area. Findings indicate that landscape visualization increases concern levels in participants that harbor low to no concern about exis (open full item for complete abstract)

Doctor of Philosophy, Miami University, 2024, Biology

This dissertation is structured into five chapters. Chapter I: I provide a general introduction to my dissertation, primarily introducing the different influences on intraspecific variation and providing a background on local adaptation. Chapter II: I investigate the effects of environmental conditions and demographic history on populations of desert horned lizards (Phrynosoma platyrhinos). I evaluate the demographic history of P. platyrhinos and identify signatures of selection associated with climate, which may be indicative of local adaptation. I then link signatures of selection to genes and functional genomic elements. Chapter III: I explore the influence of environmental heterogeneity on intraspecific variation of the chisel-toothed kangaroo rat (Dipodomys microps). I discover signals of selection associated with both climate and vegetation. I also find evidence that selective pressures likely vary across the species distribution and develop a permutation test to identify populations that possess more putatively adaptive alleles than expected by chance. I also link signals of selection to genes and biological functions that may be related to previously identified morphological differences between populations. Chapter IV: I perform a meta-analysis to understand general patterns of putative local adaptation in terrestrial chordates. I use previously published datasets and analyze them using a common framework to test theoretical predictions regarding the relationship between environmental and demographic factors and signals of selection. I find that signals of selection follow theoretical predictions, and, importantly, find that constant variation is an important driver of signals of selection. Chapter V: I provide conclusions and future directions from my results.

Master of Arts (MA), Bowling Green State University, 2024, Sociology

A recent report released by the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication and the George Mason University Center for Climate Change Communication found that only 61% of Americans believe that “global warming is mostly human-caused.” Moreover, a recent analysis from the Center for American Progress (2021) uncovered that 139 elected officials in the 117th Congress do not endorse or express concerns about the scientific validity of anthropogenic climate change. However, Powell (2017) examined 11,602 peer-reviewed articles examining anthropogenic climate change and found 100% consensus from the world's leading scientists. Few studies have applied a theoretical perspective rooted in criminology to quantitatively analyze why individuals deny anthropogenic climate change. To address this gap in the research, I apply Gottfredson and Hirschi's (1990) theory of self-control to anthropogenic climate change beliefs (ACCB). Additionally, I test whether education moderates the relationship between self-control and ACCB. This exploratory research employed original data collection by sampling respondents from CloudResearch's Connect platform in 2023 (n = 648). Results from the multivariate analyses show that self-control is not significantly associated with ACCB, nor does education moderate the relationship between self-control and ACCB. However, a significant association (p < .001) between Akers' (1998) social learning theory and ACCB was uncovered. Further research should analyze the four core elements (i.e., differential association, definitions, differential reinforcement, and imitation) of Akers' (1998) social learning theory to better understand the intricacies and drivers of these learned beliefs.

Master of Arts, Miami University, 2023, Geography

Resilience planning seeks to respond to and mitigate climate change effects. Such planning can reduce vulnerability and build the capacity to adapt but must take care in addressing issues of equity in the process. To address physical and social vulnerabilities, Charleston, South Carolina has turned to equity and resilience planning. However, these terms can be as ambiguous as they are important. How do planners and stakeholders define and operationalize resilience and equity? How are they integrating equity within both their city plans and the planning process? While scholarly literature and policy increasingly emphasize resilience and equity in theory, more research is needed to understand how cities, particularly coastal cities with significant physical and social vulnerabilities, make sense of these ideas in practice. This thesis uses textual analysis and interviews with stakeholders in resilience planning to understand Charleston's evolving approaches to vulnerability and equity in the planning process, culminating in a system-wide, integrative City Plan. Additionally, this research looks at the breadth of equity built into Charleston's City Plan. While Charleston has been consistent in defining and addressing the issues impacting the city, continued and deepened integration of equity within the planning process may strengthen the city's adaptive and overall resilience.

Ph.D., Antioch University, 2022, Antioch New England: Environmental Studies

As climate change accelerates and social inequity grows, adaptation planning and policy must respond to both problems. Adaptation scholars increasingly call for transformative solutions that not only address problems with the status quo but articulate ethical commitments to justice and equity. City climate action and adaptation plans (CAAPs) have begun to center these commitments, but little is known about how such responses become articulated and change as CAAPs are developed and passed. This dissertation, a critical case study of San Antonio's first CAAP, SA Climate Ready, addresses this gap by focusing on changes to the discourse of climate equity during the planning and drafting phases. Combining critical discourse analysis and rhetorical analysis methodologies, the study examined claims about climate equity and climate action, as well as the value resonances conveyed by these claims. The dataset included transcripts of 45 planning meetings in 2018 and three CAAP drafts published in 2019. Findings suggest that climate equity discourse was backgrounded, and economic arguments for climate action foregrounded, to appeal to decision-makers' values and priorities. Identifying four rhetorical constraints contributing to these changes and four recommendations for mitigating these constraints, this study has implications for transformative climate planning and policymaking in other contexts.

Master of Science (MS), Ohio University, 2021, Geography (Arts and Sciences)

Due to the global impacts of Antarctic sea ice and the changing climate, it is important to understand what is influencing Antarctic sea ice variability in a historical context. This is especially true since observations of Antarctic sea ice only begin around 1979. To investigate what is influencing Antarctic sea ice in a longer context, this study generated, evaluated, and analyzed new reconstructions of Antarctic sea ice extent (SIE) through statistical relationships with other long-term datasets available throughout the 20th century. A principal component regression technique that has been proven successful in other Antarctic climate reconstructions was employed in this study, using pressure and temperature observations across the Southern Hemisphere in conjunction with indices of large-scale climate variability known to influence Antarctic SIE. Ultimately, this study was conducted to determine if Antarctic SIE reconstructions are a skillful measure for understanding historical Antarctic sea ice trends and variability throughout the 20th century. The newly generated reconstructions demonstrate that skillful seasonal (extending back to 1905) and monthly (extending back to 1957) sea ice reconstructions can be produced. In comparison, the monthly reconstructions outperformed the seasonal reconstructions based on various assessments (including an independent validation approach), although both sets of reconstructions improved historical sea ice extent knowledge well beyond the use climatological mean. Although shorter in duration due to the inclusion of nearby Antarctic temperature and pressure (which begin near 1957), the monthly reconstructions also allowed for a broader analysis on sea ice extent for month-to-month variations and were useful for monitoring changes in the reconstruction skill performance that could not be seen on a seasonal level. While these new reconstructions unlock new information previously unknown about early 20th century Antarctic sea ice e (open full item for complete abstract)

Doctor of Philosophy, University of Akron, 2018, Psychology-Industrial/Organizational

Sexism has been a persistent workplace issue for many decades, with a variety of proposed solutions and theoretical explanations throughout recent years. While the prevalence of sexism is well documented, much debate remains about how to best address it. Studies of diversity climate have shown promise in impacting outcomes, but much is still unknown about how and why diversity climate is related to other constructs. The current study aimed to contribute to the diversity climate literature in several ways, including through a multi-level, multi-method approach to examining the relationships among diversity climate components, psychological perceptions, and two outcomes: satisfaction and commitment. The first portion of the study was comprised of several focus groups where qualitative data was collected and analyzed. The second portion of the study involved a survey that was sent to faculty members and department chairs at a large Midwestern university. Results showed that diversity climate components did not impact outcomes indirectly through psychological perceptions as predicted, but did directly impact outcomes. Many of the supported relationships existed at both the individual and group level, and many also depended on demographic variables such as tenure and gender. Possible explanations for these findings, as well as implications, are discussed.

Doctor of Philosophy in Urban Studies and Public Affairs, Cleveland State University, 2016, Maxine Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs

Climate change is one of the most daunting problems of our time requiring innovative responses to its causes and consequences. In the United States, the long absence of strong federal leadership along with growing public awareness of the problem created a fertile ground for state-level climate action planning. To date, 34 states have adopted Climate Action Plans (CAPs). The question that this study addresses is: Does state-level climate action have the potential to reduce carbon emissions significantly? This question was examined by assessing the relationships between CAPs, emissions reduction targets, plan implementation and emissions mitigation. My hypothesis was that CAPs result in emissions mitigation beyond the trend. This study compares states with and without CAPs, before and after adoption and implementation of plans. The first phase of the research, a content analysis of state-level CAPs, involves four components: 1) CAP development procedures; 2) goal setting, policy coverage and regional coordination; 3) implementation provisions and conditions; and 4) implementation mechanisms and monitoring results. The analysis reveals six types of CAPs, categorized based on the rigor of their targets and implementation. The second phase of the research analyzes the relationships between CAP types and changes in emissions using panel emissions data from 1990 to 2013. The regression model controls for social, political and climatic context, industrial mix and change over time, urban form and energy prices. The research shows that CAPs do result in reductions in emissions, although they are modest. Only a few CAPs set enforceable targets and provide strong evidence of implementation, monitoring and evaluation. Overall, progress towards goals is slow and near-term targets are low. The findings also suggest a role for planners in two key areas: transportation and land use. The analysis demonstrates that state-level CAPs call for low emissions reductions from trans (open full item for complete abstract)

Master of Arts (MA), Ohio University, 2009, Political Science (Arts and Sciences)

In order to understand why the Kyoto Protocol has not been as stringent as many hoped, this paper will seek to answer two main questions. First, why do international treaties on climate change always result in a lowest common denominator of commitment? Negotiations for the Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol indicate that the policy goals of proactive parties are deflated by the foot-dragging of even just a few resistant parties. Secondly, this thesis will examine why some states are more progressive about fighting climate change than others. The European Union and the United States—which have displayed vastly different policy preferences throughout the duration of the international climate regime—will be compared to answer this second question. A two-level games approach is employed to examine how the international system, as well as domestic characteristics, affected the EU and US policy preferences.

MA, Kent State University, 2024, College of Education, Health and Human Services / School of Foundations, Leadership and Administration

The purpose of this thesis is to explore why schools ought to educate for sustainability in response to the climate emergency. Moreover, the author explores why the elementary school is an appropriate place to begin such education as well as how such education can be implemented in the field of music education, specifically elementary music education. The research questions for this thesis are as follows: (1) Why should schools educate for sustainability? (2) Why is elementary school an appropriate place to begin education for sustainability (EfS)? (3) Why is the general music classroom a worthy space for EfS? The author uses social and educational theory, philosophy, and findings from other research to answer these questions. This thesis reviews and synthesizes research, theory, and philosophy from various foundational disciplines. This thesis concludes that EfS ought to be included in the school and begin at the elementary level. Every subject and teacher ought to consider how their subject might help attune students to nature and its protection for the sake of our love for the world, our subjects, and teaching. This thesis specifically explores and argues for EfS in the general music classroom, but practitioners in every field ought to consider EfS in their subject's context.

Psy. D., Antioch University, 2024, Antioch Seattle: Clinical Psychology

The present study investigates the phenomenon of climate denial through a new theoretical framework of privilege. The analysis utilizes a feminist orientation that builds on a historical interpretation through the lens of colonialism. Through the dissection of current multidisciplinary understandings of climate denial and new concepts discovered in the review of academic literature and popular media, a compilation of theory, relationship, and connection is made. Systems of power and privilege are examined and connected to the mechanisms and maintenance of climate denial. The resulting analysis illuminates that settler colonialism, supported by connected ideologies of White supremacy, ableism, and patriarchy inform the creation and perpetuation of climate denialism. Privileges grant invisibility, insulation from climate change and discomfort, and innocence in the maintenance of climate denial and subsequent power structures. Implications of communication and dismantling climate denial and systems of power are discussed. This dissertation is available in open access at AURA (https://aura.antioch.edu) and OhioLINK ETD Center (https://etd.ohiolink.edu). Keywords: climate denial, climate change, privilege, settler colonialism

Bachelor of Science of Journalism (BSJ), Ohio University, 2024, Journalism

The scientific and psychological communities have started to recognize ecological anxiety (also known as eco-anxiety or climate anxiety), an emotional response to climate change and environmental destruction, as a growing mental health phenomenon. There has been an increased focus on how psychologists and other mental health professionals can best support those who are experiencing negative mental health effects due to climate change, including increased anxiety. In turn, mainstream media outlets have increased their coverage of eco- anxiety and other related mental health impacts of climate change. This paper discusses how eco- anxiety has been framed by mainstream media outlets, specifically newspapers with large readership. Articles from eight different American newspapers that included the words “eco- anxiety”, “climate anxiety”, or referenced the phenomenon were compiled. These articles were coded to reveal the specific frames utilized, including master, generic, and issue-specific frames. The focus of this research was to provide a better understanding of how mainstream media frames the topic of eco-anxiety and if that framing reflects the current scientific understanding of eco-anxiety.

Bachelor of Arts (BA), Ohio University, 2024, Environmental Studies

Climate change, a global problem growing in severity and urgency, is one that touches all of us, regardless of where in the world we live, learn, and grow. In light of entities such as the IPCC and UNESCO emphasizing the need for climate education, schools all over the world are incorporating climate change education into their curriculums. However, climate change is an interdisciplinary issue, and the common approaches to climate education focus heavily on the natural and physical sciences. Although important, the scientific reality of climate change, i.e. the natural and physical science, is not the entire story. Art is a powerful tool that has been utilized throughout modern history to communicate issues of injustice and inequity, often doing so in a way that evokes emotional response - the kinds of responses that lead to behavior change and action. Art that tells the stories of climate change and other environmental issues is a relatively new development, but the art that has emerged shows us that it is emotionally powerful. The use of art as an environmental communication tool has the ability to motivate change. In order to explore this capability of art further, I made my own piece - to be an appalachian woman - and exhibited it on Ohio University's campus for five days. At this exhibition, onlookers were invited to leave behind sentiments about what the piece said to them. These comments revealed that to be an appalachian woman succeeded in telling a comprehensible story about Appalachian women and environmental justice, and further, succeeded in evoking emotional responses in the viewers.