Public Policy
The science of shaping solutions to public problems like healthcare, education and climate change. Policy analysts blend politics, economics, law and sociology to make decisions that affect thousands or even millions of people.
What would you do?
- Gather information on social, economic or environmental issues
- Analyze data to assess needs and improvements
- Create briefing notes and talking points for elected officials
- Write reports to educate the public
- Advocate for legislation
To fight climate change, policy analysts…
Incentivize sustainability
- Require a share of electricity to come from solar or wind
- Offer rebates for sustainable appliances
- Give grants to companies developing clean technology
- Make public transportation cheaper
Coordinate climate action
- Align goals across local, state and federal agencies
- Educate the public about policies on the ballot
- Help organizations find effective policies to advocate for
Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
- Enact a carbon tax so businesses pay for their emissions
- Check whether climate programs are meeting their goals
- Monitor outcomes of sustainable policies
Create climate adaptation plans
- Identify communities vulnerable to extreme heat and other disasters
- Write adaptation policies by listening to community needs
- Develop strategies for future climate problems
Relationship to climate change
Climate policy is essential for helping solutions have large-scale impact.
Use public policy for these Project Drawdown solutions:
- Abandoned Farmland
- Agrivoltaics
- Agroforestry
- Alternative Insulation Materials
- Alternative Refrigerants
- Annual Cropping
- Appliance & Equipment Efficiency
- Aquaculture
- Biochar
- Biomass Crops on Degraded Land
- Building Envelopes
- More solutions →
Expert insight · coming soon
Julia Stein
Deputy Director of UCLA Law School’s Emmett Institute on Climate Change and the Environment. She leads the California Environmental Legislation & Policy Clinic, where law students work alongside California legislators.
View her profile →
Get started
A great fit if you’re interested in politics, problem solving, ethics and justice, and working with people.
Recommended classes
High school: Intro to Public Policy, Public Speaking, Statistics, Government, AP Microeconomics, AP Macroeconomics, AP Seminar (helpful), AP Research (helpful)
Project ideas
- Give feedback on your city’s climate policies
- Survey your community’s views on climate change and use findings to support policies
- Create an educational campaign on a climate policy issue
- Join an advocacy group and advocate for policies
- Interview local leaders about climate policy challenges
- Give public comment at your city or state council
More resources
- Operations Research Analysts / Policy Analysts (BLS)
- U.S. Climate Policy Explained: What Americans Need to Know
- Support for Climate Action Hinges on Public Understanding of Policy
- Six ways that governments can drive the green transition
Written by Aiden Miao, Palo Alto High School (2027)
