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Scholars

Katya Rhodes

University of Victoria

Based in

Canada
North America

Dr. Katya Rhodes is an Associate Professor in the School of Public Administration at the University of Victoria. Her research focuses on the design of effective and politically acceptable climate policies using large scale surveys, energy-economy modelling, and media analysis. Most recently, her research has expanded to climate obstruction by analyzing how “climate delay” narratives spread, who promotes them, and how they influence public opinion and policy outcomes.

She is a Lead Author for IPCC AR7 (WGIII Chapter 5), a Member of Canada’s Sustainable Development Advisory Council, and an Editor for Nature Communications Sustainability. Her work has earned the 2025 Emerging Sustainability Leader Award and the 2023 CUFA BC Early-in-Career Award.

Country(ies) of Specialty

Canada United Kingdom United States

Focus areas of expertise

Climate policy and politics Communications research Scientific assessments Public opinion

How to Connect

Publications

Peer-reviewed journal publications

Kulin, J., and Rhodes, E. (2026). Beyond denial: climate delay discourses and public opinion on government climate action in the United States. Environmental Politics, 1-33. https://doi.org/10.1080/09644016.2026.2633831

Pardy, A., Rhodes, E., Axsen, J., and Jaccard, M. (2026). From furnaces to heat pumps: Assessing preference heterogeneity among Canadian homeowners. Energy Policy, 212, 115-153. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2026.115153

Hoyle, A., Seatle, M., Griffin, B., McPherson, M., and Rhodes, E. (2026). Green vs. growth? Exploring British Columbia’s energy transition trade-offs using integrated energy systems modelling. Environmental Research Letters. https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/ae3ab5

Lloyd, S., and Rhodes, E. (2026). Conquering the climate change counter movement: Six lessons to overcome climate delays in Canada. Energy Research & Social Science, 131, 104500. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2025.104500

Pardy, A., Rhodes, E., and Jaccard, M. (2025). Subnational Climate Policy Leadership in British Columbia and Vancouver. Canadian Public Administration, 1-19. https://doi.org/10.1111/capa.70042

Ebner, M., Kachi, A., Rhodes, E., and Andrew, K. (2025). Climate action close to home: The role of public attitudes and policy responses in reducing GHG emissions. Energy Research & Social Science, 127, 104264. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2025.104264

Hoyle, A., and Rhodes, E. (2025). Explaining public support for net-zero climate policy instruments: Perceptions of distributive fairness under competing frames. Energy Policy, 203, 114644. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2025.114644

Bell, C., Rhodes, E., Long, Z., and Salemi, C. (2025). Do economic trade-offs matter in climate policy support? Comparative survey evidence from the United Kingdom and Australia. Energy Policy, 197, 114430. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2024.114430

Masemann, C., Krawchenko, T., and Rhodes, E. (2024). Getting the job done: Barriers and enablers to municipal climate action in Greater Victoria. Canadian Journal of Urban Research, 33 (1), 1-13. https://cjur.uwinnipeg.ca/index.php/cjur/article/view/421/195

Andrew, K., Pardy, A., and Rhodes, E. (2024). The landscape of heat pump adoption in Canada: A market segments approach. Special issue “Energy Efficiency in Buildings and Urban Environments.” Frontiers in Energy Efficiency, 2, https://doi.org/10.3389/fenef.2024.1376070

Arjmand R., Hoyle A., Rhodes E., McPherson M. (2024). Exploring the impacts of carbon pricing on Canada’s electricity sector. Energies, 17(2), 385. https://doi.org/10.3390/en17020385

Andrew, K., Rhodes, E., and Ebner, M. (2024). Size of government and willingness-to-pay for environmental policy: Evidence from a cross-country survey. Journal of Environmental Management, 351, 119601. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.119601

Veitch, E., and Rhodes, E. (2024). A cross-country comparative analysis of congestion pricing systems to achieve decarbonization goals. Case Studies on Transport Research, 15, 101128. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cstp.2023.101128 Nominated for Elsevier Atlas Award.

Hoyle, A., Peters, J., Jaccard, M., and Rhodes, E. (2023). Additional or accidental? Simulating interactions between a low-carbon fuel standard and other climate policy instruments in Canada. Energy Policy, 185, 113919. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2023.113919

Dordi, T., Webber, O., Rhodes, E., and McPherson, M. (2023). A voice for change? Capital markets as a key leverage point in Canada’s fossil fuel industry. Energy Research and Social Science, 103, 103189. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2023.103189

McCurdy, J., and Rhodes, E. (2023). What drives greenhouse gas emissions? An international scoping review of emission trends in 2010-2019. Climate Resilience and Sustainability. http://doi.org/10.1002/cli2.52

McPherson, M., Rhodes, E., Stanislaw, L., Arjmand, R., Saffari, M., Hoicka, C., Xu, R., and Esfahlani, M. (2023). Modeling the transition to a zero emission energy system: A cross-sectoral review of building, transportation, and electricity system models in Canada. Energy Reports, 9, 4380-4400. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egyr.2023.02.090

Scott, W., Rhodes, E., and Hoicka, C. (2023). Multi-level climate policy in Canada: Examining impacts and interactions between federal and provincial climate policy mixes. Climate Policy, 23(8). https://doi.org/10.1080/14693062.2023.2185586

Gransaull, G., Rhodes, E., and Fairbrother, M. (2022). Institutions for effective climate policymaking: Lessons from the case of the United Kingdom. Energy Policy, 175, 113484. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2023.113484

Corbett, M., Rhodes, E., Pardy, A., and Long, Z. (2023). Pumping up adoption: The role of policy awareness in explaining willingness to adopt heat pumps in Canada. Energy Research and Social Science, 96, 102926. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2022.102926

Fairbrother, M., and Rhodes, E. (2023). Climate policy in British Columbia: An unexpected journey. Frontiers in Climate, 4, 1043672. https://doi.org/10.3389/fclim.2022.1043672

Odland, S., Rhodes, E., Corbett, M., and Pardy, A. (2023). What policies do homeowners prefer for home heating and why? An exploration of policy support in Canada. Energy Policy, 173, 113368. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2022.113368

Andrew, K., Majerbi, B., and Rhodes, E. (2022). Slouching or Speeding Toward Net Zero? Evidence from COVID-19 Stimulus Policies in the G20. Ecological Economics, 107586, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolecon.2022.107586

Pardy, A., Rhodes, E., and Jaccard, M. (2022). Charactering air source heat pump market segments: A Canadian case study. Frontiers in Sustainability, 3, 983454. https://doi.org/10.3389/frsus.2022.983454

Rhodes, E., Hoyle, A., McPherson, M., & Craig, K. (2022). Understanding climate policy projections: A scoping review of energy-economy models in Canada. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 153, 111739. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2021.111739

Yan, L. Flexible regulations. On Rhodes, E., Scott, W., and Jaccard, M. Nature Climate Change, 11, 643. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-021-01121-7

Rhodes, E., Scott, W., and Jaccard, M. (2021). Designing flexible regulations to mitigate climate change: A cross-country comparative policy. Energy Policy, 156, 112419. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2021.112419

Rhodes, E., Craig, K., Hoyle, A., and McPherson, M. (2021). How do energy-economy models compare? A survey of model developers and users in Canada. Sustainability, 13(1), 5789. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13115789

Rhodes, E., Krawchenko, T., Pearce, K., and Shaw, K. (2021). Scaling up local climate action: A survey of climate policy priorities in the Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities region. Canadian Planning and Policy / Aménagement Et Politique Au Canada, 2021(01), 36-69. https://doi.org/10.24908/cpp-apc.v2021i01.14469

Kitt, S., Axsen, J., Long, Z., and Rhodes, E. (2021). Competence, integrity or value similarity? The role of trust in citizen acceptance of climate policy. Ecological Economics, 183, 106958. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolecon.2021.106958

Rhodes, E., Axsen, J., and Jaccard, M. (2017). Exploring citizen support for different types of climate policy. Ecological Economics, 137, 56-69. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolecon.2017.02.027

Rhodes, E., Axsen, J., and Jaccard, M. (2015). Gauging citizen support for a low carbon fuel standard. Energy Policy, 79, 104-114. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2015.01.019

Rhodes, E., Axsen, J., and Jaccard, M. (2014). Does effective climate policy require a well-informed citizen support? Global Environmental Change, 29, 92-104. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2014.09.001

Rhodes, E., and Jaccard, M. (2013). A Tale of two climate policies: Political-economy of British Columbia’s carbon tax and clean electricity standard. Canadian Public Policy, 39, S37-51. https://doi.org/10.3138/CPP.39.Supplement2.S37

Opinion and policy papers:Kulin, J., & Rhodes, E. (2026). Despite Trump Actions, the Most Dangerous Climate Argument Today Isn’t Denial — It’s Delay. https://www.desmog.com/2026/04/15/despite-trump-actions-the-most-dangerous-climate-argument-today-isnt-denial-its-delay/

Hoyle, A., & Rhodes, E. (2026). B.C. can have growth and fewer emissions. Times Colonist. https://www.timescolonist.com/opinion/comment-bc-can-have-growth-and-fewer-emissions-12019184

Rhodes, E., Egler, M., Hargreaves, R., Lloyd, S. (2026). How to include fossil fuel communities in Canada’s clean energy transition. The Conversation Canada, January 25. https://doi.org/10.64628/AAM.aq4aygefs

Lloyd, S., and Rhodes, E. (2025). Fossil-fuel propaganda is stalling climate action. Here’s what we can do about it. The Conversation Canada, December 22. https://doi.org/10.64628/AAM.9uvcdesnc

Starke, E., and Rhodes, E. (2025). GHG emissions likely to rise if Conservatives win April 28 election. Policy Options, April 9.

Lloyd, S., and Rhodes, E. (2025). How to get B.C.’s climate groove back. Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions, February 5.

Rhodes, E. and Bell, C. (2025). Here’s How to Win Support for Climate Action. Talk about future economic benefits. Focus less on the carbon tax. The Tyee, January 28.

Rhodes, E. (2024). A climate policy primer for BC voters. Canada’s National Observer. October 18.

Rhodes, E. (2024). The Case for Defending Canada’s Carbon Pricing. And how to change the anti-tax discourse. Because our future is at stake.The Tyee, April 12.

Rhodes, E. (2024). Big government, big trouble? Defending the future of Canada’s climate policy. The Conversation Canada, April 7.

Dordi, T., Rhodes, E., Majerbi, B., and McPherson, M. (2024). Shifting Perceptions on Net Zero: Growing Awareness, Polarized Views, IESVic Policy Brief.

Andrew, K., and Rhodes, E. (2024). Big government, big problem? The role of government size in climate policy support, IESVic Policy Brief.

Masemann, C., Krawchenko, T., and Rhodes, E. (2024). Barriers and enablers to the adoption of buildings and energy efficiency initiatives in Greater Victoria, IESVic Policy Brief.

Dordi, T., Rhodes, E., and McPherson, M. (2023). Oil Money, Foreign Control: Exposing the Powers Behind Canada’s Oil Sands. Policy Options, August 23.

Gransaull, G., Rhodes, E., and Fairbrother, M. (2023). The U.K.’s approach to climate governance can aid Canada’s climate ambitions. Policy Options, August 9.

Scott, W., and Rhodes, E. (2023). Canada needs to synchronize its climate policies for effective emission control.The Conversation Canada, March 28.

Rhodes, E., and Corbett, M. (2023). Targeted policies can help decarbonize Canada one home at a time. The Conversation Canada, January 24.

Odland, S. and Rhodes, E. (2023). Home decarbonization requires tailored policies.Policy Options, January 16.

Andrew, K., Majerbi, B. and Rhodes, E. (2022). What the 2022 federal budget says about Canada’s commitment to a green recovery. The Conversation Canada, April 7. Re-posted in National Post and the World News.

Rhodes, E., Craig, K., Hoyle, A., and McPherson, M. (2021). Improving Climate Policy Projections. Policy Brief. Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council.

Rhodes, E., and Hoyle, A. (2021). Climate policy creates winners and losers, and governments need to choose the best model to weigh the outcomes. The Conversation Canada, November 9.

Scott, W., and Rhodes, E. (2021). Bending the emissions curve requires flexibility. Policy Options, August 13.

Rhodes, E. (2020). BC’s green stimulus needs to focus on fuel switching, not energy efficiency. Policy Options, July 20. The Coronavirus Pandemic: Canada’s Response Special Feature.