24STUDENT How Cold Weather Events Influence Policymaking at the State Level

Extreme weather events have become increasingly common in recent years as we see the effects of climate change on our environment. My research seeks to understand the relationship between cold weather events and policymaking at a state level using the correlation and regression analysis of heating degree days, minimum temperatures, and the climate change policies in place before vs after cold weather events. I predict that there will be additions to/reinforcements of climate policy in a state in the year after a state has extreme low minimum temperatures and heating degree days. This work is significant as climate change is a pressing issue that affects every living being on this planet, and furthering our understanding of what influences statewide policymaking on climate change will allow advocates against climate change to strategize on how best to enact change locally.