Sonnenfeld studies climate change politics throughout the Obama administrations

David Sonnenfeld co-authored a recent study using “President Barack Obama's two terms in office” as a “case study in the evolving political discourse on climate change in the United States. Taken together, they highlight the complex interaction between climate science, administrative power, and legislative efforts, which differs from institutionalized science-politics interactions.” 

“Drawing upon boundary work literature, this study takes a retrospective, comparative-historical view of the trajectory of the climate agenda during Obama’s two presidential campaigns and terms of office. His first term prioritized the scientific foundation of climate change, with the appointment of prominent scientists and advancement of climate-policymaking. His second term saw a shift in emphasis from actively promoting climate policies to defending the integrity of climate science and relying on administrative actions, with greater obstacles from Congress and growing disputes with climate change sceptics. This shift reflected a widening political divide within Congress, American public opinion, and the scientific community.” 

Access the full paper in Climate Policy (subscription required). 

Oh, Y., & Sonnenfeld, D. A. (2026). Climate science or politics? Blurred demarcation and interplay during the Obama administrations, 2009–2017. Climate Policy, 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1080/14693062.2026.2682285