The cultural force of actions such as the pope’s encyclical is more effective against denial of climate change than the information by itself, said ASU's Dan Bodansky – a Foundation Professor of Law and Senior Sustainability Scholar – during a recent panel discussion at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government. 

Bodansky also pointed out that even non-binding international agreements have had success, citing the 1975 Helsinki Accords on human rights.

The panel was called “Bringing the Global Community to the Table: Paris 2015 U.N. Climate Change Conference.” The panelists – who included Deputy Director of China’s National Center for Climate Change Strategy, Zou Ji – expressed optimism about the U.N. climate conference in Paris, calling U.S. participation on the heels of domestic climate-related moves a “game-changer.”

Still, the panelists took care to point out that progress, not a solution, is the best-case scenario for the talks.