Matto Mildenberger

Associate Professor of Political Science, University of California-Santa Barbara

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About Matto

Mildenberger's research focuses on climate policy inaction in the face of dramatic economic and social costs associated with the climate crisis. His current book project explores variation in the timing and content of carbon pricing policies across advanced economies; with particular attention to the role of carbon polluters in shaping climate policy outcomes. He also studies the dynamics of public climate opinions. Mildenberger directs the Climate Policy and Governance Project; within Yale’s Governance; Environment and Markets Lab. He is also affiliated with the Yale Project on Climate Change Communication. Beginning in July 2015; Matto will be Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of California Santa Barbara.

Contributions | No Jargon Podcast | Member Spotlight | In the News | Publications

Contributions

What Do Americans Think about Climate Change at the State and Local Level?

Peter D. Howe
Jennifer R. Marlon

Key Findings Brief, May 2015

No Jargon Podcast

Episode 250:
Climate, Health Care, and the IRS

August 2023

In the News

Opinion: "Americans Want Green Spending in Federal Coronavirus Recession Relief Packages," Matto Mildenberger (with Parrish Bergquist and Leah C. Stokes), Equitable Growth, July 7, 2020.

Opinion: "Protestors Want Justice--Including on Social, Economic, and Climate Demands," Matto Mildenberger (with Parrish Bergquist and Leah C. Stokes), The Washington Post, June 12, 2020.

Opinion: "Australia’s Fires Have Devastated Millions of Acres. What’s the Political Damage?," Matto Mildenberger (with Joshua Busby), Monkey Cage, The Washington Post, January 13, 2020.

Opinion: "Australia’s Fires Have Devastated Millions of Acres. What’s the Political Damage?," Matto Mildenberger (with Joshua Busby ), The Washington Post, January 13, 2020.

Opinion: "The Green Party Wave Could Spread Across Canada," Matto Mildenberger, The Conversation, April 25, 2019.

Opinion: "The Tragedy of the Tragedy of the Commons," Matto Mildenberger, Scientific American, April 23, 2019.

Research discussed by Nicole Mortillaro, in "The Psychology of Climate Change: Why People Deny the Evidence," CBC, December 2, 2018.

Quoted by Jim Logan in "A Climate of Cooperation," The Current, June 22, 2017.

Quoted by David Roberts in "The Political Hurdles Facing a Carbon Tax - and How to Overcome Them," Vox, April 26, 2016.

Opinion: "Is Lagging on Climate Change a Political Liability?," Matto Mildenberger (with David M. Konisky), The Conversation, October 22, 2015.

Research discussed by David Roberts, in "8 Maps That Reveal Americans' Incoherent Opinions on Climate Change," Vox, June 2, 2015.

Research discussed by Suzanne Jacobs, in "Meet the United States of Divided Climate Beliefs," Grist, April 7, 2015.

Research discussed by Michael Casey, in "These States are Least Concerned about Global Warming," CBS News, April 6, 2015.

Research discussed by Andrew C. Revkin, in "No Red and Blue Divide When it Comes to Renewable Energy Innovation and CO2 Rules," New York Times, April 6, 2015.

Publications

"Survey Sampling in the Global South Using Facebook Advertisements" (with Parrish Bergquist, Leah R. Rosenzweig, Katherine Hoffmann Pham, and Francesco Rampazzo). Political Science Research and Methods 13, no. 4 (2025): 781-797.

Shows how researchers can use Facebook ads to run surveys in countries where traditional polling is difficult or expensive. Evaluates how accurate and representative this method is, helping expand who can be included in public opinion research globally.

"Combining Climate, Economic, and Social Policy Builds Public Support for Climate Action in the US" (with Parrish Bergquist and Leah C. Stokes). Environmental Research Letters 15, no. 5 (2020): 054019.

Shows that people are more supportive of climate policies when they’re paired with economic and social benefits (like jobs or equity measures). In other words, bundling climate action with broader benefits makes it more politically popular.

"Geographic Variation in Opinion on Climate Change at State and Local Scales in the USA" (with Peter Howe, Jennifer Marlon, and Anthony Leiserowitz). Nature Climate Change (2015).

Presents the first estimates of climate and energy opinions at state and local scales in the United States, including public beliefs about climate change and climate policy preferences at the state, county, congressional district and municipality scales.

"Beyond the Information Campaign: Community-Based Energy Behavioral Change at the University of Toronto" (with Leah C. Stokes, Beth Savan, Brian Kolenda, and Dan Dolderman). Environmental Practice 15, no. 2 (2013): 147-155.

Suggests best practices for environmental behavior-change campaigns in large institutional settings.

Dependent America?: How Canada and Mexico Construct U.S. Power (with Stephen Clarkson). (University of Toronto Press, 2011).

Discusses North American policy interdependence, and the ways in which U.S. economic prosperity and physical security depend on both its Northern and Southern neighbor.