Leah Stokes

Dr. Leah Stokes is a Canadian-American political scientist specializing in climate and energy policy. With extensive experience in the field, Stokes has contributed to the development and advocacy of climate provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act. She holds the position of Anton Vonk Associate Professor of Environmental Politics in the Department of Political Science and is affiliated with the Bren School of Environmental Science & Management at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Stokes earned her PhD in public policy and a master's degree in political science from MIT, as well as an MPA in environmental science and policy from Columbia University's School of International & Public Affairs and the Earth Institute.

Stokes' research focuses on public policy, public opinion, and political behavior, particularly in the areas of energy, environment, and climate change. Her academic work has appeared in journals such as American Political Science Review, American Journal of Political Science, British Journal of Political Science, Nature Energy, Energy Policy, and Environmental Science & Technology. Within American politics, she examines representation, public opinion, voting behavior, and public policy, with an emphasis on state-level dynamics. In environmental politics, her research addresses climate change, renewable energy, water, and chemicals policy. Stokes' findings indicate that electrification can significantly reduce carbon emissions, improve public health, bolster the economy, enhance grid resilience, and mitigate the impacts of weather-related disasters.

Stokes is the author of the book "Short Circuiting Policy" (Oxford University Press), which analyzes the influence of utilities on climate denial and clean energy legislation. The book has received multiple awards, including recognition from the American Energy Society and the American Political Science Association, and was listed as a Top 5 Climate Book by The New York Times. She also contributed to the anthology "All We Can Save." Her book "The Carbon Wave: A Story of Democracy, Parenthood, and the Race to Protect Our Planet" (MIT Press) explores the legislative journey of the Inflation Reduction Act from its roots in the Green New Deal. Stokes has held a fellowship at Harvard University's Radcliffe Institute, where she worked on federal climate policy research.

Stokes has discussed her involvement in the passage of environmental legislation and is a key participant in the 2035 Initiative, a collaborative project that develops strategies to reduce climate pollution and strengthen community resilience. She co-hosts the podcast "A Matter of Degrees" with Katharine Wilkinson, focusing on the drivers of climate change and potential solutions. Her commentary and analysis have been published in The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, and The Atlantic.

Stokes has been recognized for her contributions to climate science communication and higher education, receiving the Schneider Award for Outstanding Climate Science Communication and the Energy Thought Leader Award from the American Energy Society. She has been included on the Forbes Sustainability Leaders list, the TIME100 Next list, and the Business Insider Climate Action 30 list. Stokes also received the Harold J. Plous Award from the University of California, Santa Barbara for achievement in research, teaching, and service.