This paper researched several aspects contributing to the obstruction the United States faces when considering the implementation of international environmental policies. In 1997, the Kyoto...Show moreThis paper researched several aspects contributing to the obstruction the United States faces when considering the implementation of international environmental policies. In 1997, the Kyoto Protocol was supposed to be a pivotal step in the international fight against climate change. However, the United States made the decision not to ratify this treaty. Since the Kyoto Protocol, the views of the American public on environmental issues have become increasingly polarized. The fossil fuel industry and the conservative movement both undertake actions with the aim to prevent the implementation of climate change legislation. The fossil fuel industry spends millions of dollars annually on obstructive climate lobbying. The goal of this lobbying is to influence the political sphere to oppose environmental regulations. There is a negative relation between the conservative movement and environmentalism, especially among political elites. The conservative movement is often opposed to environmentalism due to the fact that the ideology behind the conservative movement is against government intervention. The actions taken by the conservative movement and the fossil fuel industry are executed in order to weaken the position of the environmental movement. In order to minimize the negative effects of global warming, the threat of climate change needs to be put on the national agenda. Governmental support is needed to prevent the United States from continuing to be one of the largest contributors to the global amount of carbon dioxide emissions. In this thesis, the actions of the fossil fuel industry and the conservative movement are examined in order to understand the role they have in the obstruction of environmental agreements in the United States.Show less
