Harnessing the Power of Human Interaction to Fight Climate Change

To reach its emissions targets, the United States must dramatically lower its greenhouse gas emissions in the next decade. In recent years, we’ve seen the most significant climate legislation in history – the Inflation Reduction Act – yet additional legislation is still desperately needed to prevent the worst climate impacts. So, how can we build and rally diverse political support to pass and implement essential climate policies?

Research shows that peer-to-peer interaction is a very strong predictor of individual beliefs and a driver of behavior change. Measuring social interactions has been used to predict voting behavior, improve organizational efficiency, and optimize city planning. Join Casey Elizabeth Gilbert, an independent researcher affiliated with Harvard’s Berkman Klein Center, to learn about her research in Portland, ME, and how we might harness the power of social interaction to build political will to fight climate change.