Given the political atmosphere in the United States, government-based
efforts to mitigate climate change have limited prospects. Private sector
action, in which non-governmental entities such as private corporations
contribute to mitigation efforts, may hold particular promise. Political
conservatives may be more willing to support policies reducing carbon
emissions that bypass government regulation. Using an online experimental
study (N=1,225), reading about private sector action that targets climate
mitigation, as compared to public governance approaches (e.g., government
regulation or a carbon tax), led to increased support for private sector
action and increased support for reducing carbon emissions, particularly
among conservatives. This increased support occurred in part because
conservatives perceived these approaches to be feasible and effective.
Furthermore, the increased support did not lead to deceased support for
public governance approaches. We explore the behavior change and policy
implications of these findings.