Volume Number
54
Issue Number
1
Abstract
Through formal climate action plans, cities tell residents why mitigation matters, who is responsible, and what is at stake. This study examines official climate plans from Portland (OR), Burlington (VT), Austin (TX), and Miami (FL) to analyze how local governments frame climate mitigation and attach rhetorical appeals to policy commitments. A structured content analysis shows that these plans are hybrid political-technical documents. Scientific evidence and governance/accountability frames are most common overall, reflecting the administrative work of measurement, targets, and implementation. The cases differ sharply, as Austin foregrounds equity, Miami emphasizes technical planning and green economy development, Burlington centers measurement and coordination, and Portland combines implementation with strong climate risk language. The findings show how local governments translate decarbonization into context-specific narratives of responsibility, risk, equity, and capacity.
Recommended Citation
Tuholski, Andy
(2026)
"Local Climate Plans as Political-Technical Documents: Policy Framing and Rhetorical Appeals in Four U.S. Cities,"
Journal of Political Science: Vol. 54:
No.
1, Article 4.
Available at:
https://digitalcommons.coastal.edu/jops/vol54/iss1/4