The United States of America and its people are very multi-layed. From an international perspective the political behaviour and the American way of life are mostly considered very sceptical. Especially the War against Terror and also environmental issues, rejections and restraints are intensively discussed worldwide.
Driven by global developments in the last years, international actors demand for extensive collective environmental and particulary climatic goals. So the international Union was almost indignant about the rejection of the Kyoto Protocol by the American government. The United States as the main emittent of CO2, the most responsible substance for global warming, signaled with this reaction ignorant acting and an unacceptable attitude about common property. But often unheard are the discussions inside the United States and also the predominated political base and its possibilities for environmental goals.
Table of Contents
1. INTRODUCTION
2. THE POLITICAL STRUCTURE IN THE USA AND ITS SPACE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
3. ENVIRONMENTAL MOVEMENTS, PARTICIPATION, BASIC ATMOSPHERE AND MENTALITY
4. CLIMATIC CHANGE IN THE USA AND ITS SUSPECTED ECOLOGIC, ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL IMPACT
5. PREVIOUS AND CURRENT COURSE OF POLITICAL ACTION
6. SUMMARY
7. LIST OF REFERENCES
Objectives and Core Topics
This work examines the complex interplay between the American political system, public environmental consciousness, and the government's response to climate change. It analyzes the role of third parties and NGOs in shaping environmental policy, the actual impacts of climate change on U.S. regions, and the shifting political stance from resistance toward acknowledging environmental responsibilities.
- The influence of the U.S. two-party system on environmental policy.
- The impact of grassroots movements and NGOs on political discourse.
- Direct and indirect consequences of climate change on the American economy and ecosystem.
- Political strategies and government responses, particularly during the Bush administration.
- The growing conflict between federal inaction and state-level environmental initiatives.
Excerpt from the Book
3. ENVIRONMENTAL MOVEMENTS, PARTICIPATION, BASIC ADMOSPHERE AND MENTALITY
The United States of America have a very bad reputation for environmental issues. And in fact they have made and do a lot of failures: The refusal to join the Kyoto Protocol, the noncommittal reaction refering climate goals at the G8 meeting and the facts that the per head consumption of water and oil is nowhere in the world higher than in the USA. Further every third household has three cars or more and with just three percent of the world population the Americans produce 25 percent of all CO2 emissions. The traffic increased the last 20 years approximately over 80 percent and air conditioning seems to be standard. Superficially considered, the American way of life and its high values on liberal capialistic attitudes, seem to be incompatible with international environmental demands and needs. But these suppositions disguise other facts about the United States of America and its people. The USA is a state with one of the highest rates of participation in voluntary associations.
Summary of Chapters
1. INTRODUCTION: Outlines the global perception of the U.S. regarding environmental issues, specifically noting the tension between international expectations and domestic political reality.
2. THE POLITICAL STRUCTURE IN THE USA AND ITS SPACE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES: Analyzes how the U.S. two-party system functions and evaluates the influence of smaller parties and NGOs on environmental lobbying.
3. ENVIRONMENTAL MOVEMENTS, PARTICIPATION, BASIC ATMOSPHERE AND MENTALITY: Explores the contradiction between the American lifestyle's high ecological footprint and the deep-rooted tradition of civic environmental engagement.
4. CLIMATIC CHANGE IN THE USA AND ITS SUSPECTED ECOLOGIC, ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL IMPACT: Details specific regional environmental consequences, such as droughts, permafrost thawing, and forest fires, and their economic repercussions.
5. PREVIOUS AND CURRENT COURSE OF POLITICAL ACTION: Examines the Bush administration's approach to climate policy and the emergence of competing state-led sustainability initiatives.
6. SUMMARY: Concludes that while minor shifts in policy have occurred due to public and industrial pressure, significant systemic environmental improvements remain uncertain.
7. LIST OF REFERENCES: Provides a comprehensive list of books, journals, and online sources used to support the analysis.
Keywords
United States, Environmental Policy, Climate Change, Kyoto Protocol, Bush Administration, Sustainability, NGOs, Sierra Club, Global Warming, CO2 Emissions, Political Structure, Grassroots Movements, Renewable Energy, Environmental Consciousness, Political Accountability.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research?
This work examines the political and social dynamics of environmental policy in the United States, specifically exploring why the nation has historically struggled to implement comprehensive climate goals.
What are the primary thematic areas?
The study covers the American political structure, the role of third-party influence, the impact of grassroots environmental activism, regional climate change effects, and the shifting legislative landscape.
What is the primary research objective?
The goal is to determine how the American political system, often dominated by the two-party system, responds to mounting internal and international pressure regarding environmental and climatic protection.
Which scientific methodology is applied?
The work utilizes a qualitative analysis of political structures, historical policy trajectories, and empirical data regarding environmental engagement and climate-related disasters in the U.S.
What topics are explored in the main body?
The main body treats the tension between liberal-capitalistic values and environmental needs, the specific policy failures of the early 2000s, and the rise of state-level initiatives as a response to federal inertia.
What keywords characterize the work?
Key terms include United States environmental policy, climate change, Kyoto Protocol, political structure, NGOs, and sustainable development.
How did Hurricane Katrina influence U.S. environmental discourse?
The document suggests that natural disasters like Katrina served as catalysts for shifting public opinion, forcing the government and industry to acknowledge environmental risks more seriously than before.
Why are federal states mentioned as important actors?
Federal states, such as California and Colorado, have taken the lead in enacting strict environmental laws and renewable energy mandates, partially compensating for the lack of a cohesive national climate strategy.
- Quote paper
- Katrin Geier (Author), 2007, Environmental consciousness in USA, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/128090
