The Conditional Effects of Air Conditioning: How Air Conditioning Affects Climate Change Views by Partisanship in Los Angeles County

Abstract Climate change and its effects will impact populations differently depending on a number of geographic and individual vulnerabilities, yet studies are conflicting as to whether those more vulnerable to climate change express greater levels of concern. These conflicting reports may be due to the fact that interpretations of climate vulnerability are intensely specific to individuals and because these vulnerabilities are moderated through the lens of partisanship. This paper examines the lack of residential air conditioning as a marker of climate vulnerability and how the effect of air conditioning on climate change views differs by partisan leaning. Using data from the Understanding America Study’s Los Angeles Barometer survey, this analysis shows that Republicans in Los Angeles County who lack central air conditioning, and are thus more vulnerable to hot temperatures, are more likely to consider climate change a human-caused threat and more likely to support individual and government action to address climate change than Republicans with central air conditioning. In contrast, lack of air conditioning only somewhat or insignificantly affects climate change views among Democrats. The results suggest not only that the climate change views of Republicans are amenable to personal vulnerability but also that adaptation measures may lead to reduced concern about climate change.