Climate change is an intensely polarizing issue. It doesn’t have to be.

In the lead-up to the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26), a representative sample of 962 Americans gathered last month to consider climate and energy policy proposals from across the political spectrum.

Convened by Stanford’s Center for Deliberative Democracy and the global problem-solving organization Helena, and recruited by NORC at the University of Chicago, this unprecedented group bridged partisan divides through a process called Deliberative Polling. Over the course of several weeks, participants read the best arguments from all sides, questioned experts, and engaged in thoughtful, moderated discussion via an interactive virtual platform.

Polling before and after the event found that the deliberations yielded strong, bipartisan alignment on policies to address climate change. The key question now: Will it make a difference in D.C.?

This event will take you through the results of the groundbreaking Deliberative Poll, America in One Room: Climate and Energy. 

 Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), both members of the bipartisan Senate Climate Solutions Caucus, will then join us to talk about the political dynamics of this globally consequential debate—and how the findings could shape Congressional action. Their discussion will be moderated by Russell Gold, energy editor of Texas Monthly and longtime senior reporter covering climate and energy for the Wall Street Journal.

PARTICIPANTS:

Introduction

Michelle A. Williams, Dean of the Faculty, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health; Angelopoulos Professor in Public Health and International Development, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Harvard Kennedy School

Political Panel

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R- S.C.), member of the Senate Climate Solutions Caucus

Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), member of the Senate Climate Solutions Caucus

Moderated by Russell Gold, Energy Editor, Texas Monthly, longtime senior reporter covering climate and energy for the Wall Street Journal

Deliberative Poll Results

James S. Fishkin, Director, Stanford Center for Deliberative Democracy; Janet M. Peck Chair in International Communications, Stanford University

Larry Diamond, Senior Fellow, Hoover Institution; Senior Fellow, Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies and Bass University Fellow, Undergraduate Education, Stanford University