Aligning Climate‐Energy Policies With Citizen Beliefs, Scientific Findings, Health and Economic Benefits, and Geopolitical Stability

ABSTRACT Recent and abrupt deviations in U.S. climate and energy policies are shifting the United States away from a more sustainable future toward greater fossil‐fuel use that will accelerate global warming. These new priorities go against the wishes of the American people as measured by many nationally representative surveys, and they ignore the scientific consensus regarding climate change and its deleterious consequences. This new agenda will harm the physical and mental health of Americans, imperil the U.S. economy, weaken American leadership in science, and increase geopolitical instability. Despite the frightening nature of these unprecedented departures from past climate‐energy policies, successfully combating the climate crisis is achievable and will improve well‐being, grow the economy, enhance security, and promote independence. Insights derived from social psychology can motivate positive actions so that government policies represent the will of their people and benefit from the knowledge of climate scientists, social researchers, economists, and health experts.