Climate change planning in Dallas-Fort Worth: Discourse and public participation in a politically conservative region

Abstract

Climate change is one of the greatest challenges currently facing our world, and in the field of planning there has been much attention paid to climate action planning by environmental leader cities. However, political controversy surrounds climate change in the United States, making it difficult for some cities and regions to explicitly and effectively respond to climate change. This dissertation examines planning actions related to the federal Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant, and climate change more broadly, in the politically conservative Dallas-Fort Worth region of Texas from 2005 to 2015. In particular, the research strives to better understand the role of conservative politics on the discourse used and the role of public participation on climate change. The qualitative case study draws on planning documents, 36 indepth interviews, and archival records, and uses coding and memo-writing analytical techniques. The research finds that conservative political groups and perceptions of climate change controversy prevent virtually any explicit discourse of climate change in DFW, as cities either avoid environmentalism in favor of economic development or frame environmentalism in terms of co-benefits such as saving money or improving public health. Additionally, public participation processes are often avoided due to fear of political controversy, which is realized in several municipalities studied. This represents a missed opportunity for education and involvement of citizens to foster awareness of the threats and solutions to climate change. In order for communities to prepare for the future impacts of climate change, significant changes are necessary in city operations, the design of communities, and in the daily behavior of citizens. This research contributes understanding of climate action planning in politically conservative regions and recommendations for improving discourse and public participation to foster increased climate change action in more communities across the U.S.