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Request for Proposals

CSSN Request for Proposals: Winter 2025

Request for Proposals for Social Science Research into Climate Obstruction

Application Deadline: 20 February 2025

Period of Work: 1 April 2025 – 31 October 2026

ENABLERS

We see enablers as those actors who make continued emissions-heavy activity possible–the actors and firms that grease the wheels and defend the social license of the high-emissions fossil fuel companies, car manufacturers, utilities, livestock producers, etc. To better understand the enablers of climate obstruction we seek to fund scholars who want to produce empirically rigorous, peer-reviewed research on the key and poorly understood enablers working behind the scenes to protect the fossil fuel industry by blocking climate policy and its implementation.

Proposals for the following types of projects are solicited:

1) Analysis of the roles and relationships between organizational actors engaged in obstructing climate action, including banks, think tanks, law firms, advocacy organizations, advertising firms, university researchers, consultants, lobbying firms, political organizations, and trade associations.

2) Empirical analysis of the role of public relations firms in creating and maintaining organized opposition to climate change action.

3) The use and impact of sponsored content (e.g., advertising, advertorials, webinars, etc.) in media outlets (print/digital, legacy media, social media, etc.) by opponents of climate action, and the advertising technology systems that monetize content (social media) related to obstructing climate action.

IMPACTS OF GREENWASHING

Greenwashing is when a firm misleads the public about the environmental impact of its products or operations. For more on the typology of greenwashing, see this new tool: https://cssn.org/special-projects/greenwashing-tool/

4) We seek empirical studies of the impact of climate-related greenwashing, false solutions, and advertising campaigns on elite discourse, media coverage, public opinion, policymaking, and consumer decision-making.

OPENING NEW AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE

5) Innovative research into climate obstruction, including new methods to detect obstruction, or about a new sector or firm involved in obstruction, or a new tactic that has not been previously analyzed. See our previous grants listed here—we are looking for projects that develop new areas of understanding or build on previous studies. See especially CSSN’s Climate Obstruction Across Europe and other studies linked in CSSN’s feed.

Guidelines

Funding typically ranges from $10,000 and $25,000. Identify one of these 5 topic areas when submitting. Proposals must have scientifically sound research plans that are explicitly rooted in relevant social science theory, methods, and literature. Proposals will be evaluated using criteria of intellectual merit and their potential contribution to informing pragmatic and timely actions to address climate change. For this call, proposed research focused on the last decade will be viewed more favorably than historical work. Individuals who have received previous CSSN grants are welcome to apply but preference will be given to those whose previous work is complete, and which have resulted in peer-reviewed publications.

Submit a maximum three-page single-spaced research proposal (plus appendices); each proposal must contain the following:

  • Title, which should emphasize the sector and/or kinds of organizations of interest.
  • Participating researchers, affiliations, nations, and email addresses.
  • Abstract describing the overall project, time frame and budgetary requirements. This should be no longer than 250 words.
  • A 150 word abstract that could be used publicly if the grant is awarded.
  • Research Objectives, including specific aspect of the RFP (#1-#5 listed above) that the proposal addresses. Include a specific hypothesis that will be tested in the research.
  • Intellectual Merit of the Proposed Research, including how this research expands the peer reviewed literature in the specified scholarly area, and whether it identifies new actors engaged in climate obstruction and the tactics they employ.
  • Broader Political Importance, including value of the research to addressing climate change.
  • Proposed Budget and Schedule, including intermediate outputs and planned peer reviewed publications.

Important Notes

  • Research projects involving human subjects (defined here: https://www.brown.edu/research/irb-review) will usually require approval at your home institution and vetted by Brown University’s institutional review board. This is all feasible, and is getting more streamlined, but may require a couple months, which should be built into the project schedule.
  • Indirect costs are prohibited; the approved indirect cost rate for this (RFP) is 0%.
  • This call for proposals is open to all members of the Climate Social Science Network. If you are not a member, contact us.
  • The application must be received by February 20, 2025. Apply online: https://forms.gle/rUMPc1wKAR8fKJKRA
  • Grant awardees will be required to report on their project’s outcomes at CSSN’s annual conferences in June, and in a brief final report. Articles in peer-reviewed journals are expected of all projects.
  • Direct questions to: Timmons Roberts, Executive Director, CSSN at timmons@brown.edu
Apply online