Representation of climate change in the United States: the case study of the Evangelical Climate Initiative

Abstract: The purpose of this study is to critically research and describe how the leaders of the National Association of Evangelicals and within the campaign ‘Evangelical Climate Initiative’ seek to influence climate change policymaking in the United States. The importance of this study is coming from the need to assess how strongly a religious group influences climate change policymaking in the United States. Their representation of climate change through statements and campaigns is venturing to influence policy-making and climate change debates in the United States while increasing their own visibility in the political scene. My interest in this topic came from learning more about the Environmental Climate Initiative, a campaign carried out by the National Evangelical Association and its implications in advocating for climate change action. Therefore, analysing the way in which the Evangelical Climate Initiative is performing advocacy could indicate how they seek to influence climate change. The case study of the Evangelical Climate Initiative is to be carried out with consideration to Evangelical religious beliefs and their implications in the politics of the United States. Therefore, my study is to be conducted following qualitative research methods, specifically literature review of existing research related and to the Evangelical Climate Initiative. Afterwards, the findings touching the statements made by signatories will be analysed through discourse analysis under the framework of symbolic interactionism theory to determine the character of their speeches while aiming to gain political attention and influence.