Concise Summary of Climate Change Politics and Policy

Climate Change and Political Context

Introduction to Changes in Climate Discourse

• In early 2017, notable shifts occurred in the discourse surrounding climate change, particularly within federal agencies. Terms like "greenhouse gases" and "climate change" were replaced with phrases such as "sustainability" and "emissions".
• The EPA website notably removed references to climate change, reflecting a broader trend of institutional amnesia about the topic within the federal government.

Response to the Changes

• Environmental organizations vehemently opposed the changes, viewing them as unethical censorship of scientific information driven by partisan politics. Scientists asserted the importance of acknowledging climate change as a scientific reality.

The Role of the IPCC

• The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has been a crucial entity in assessing risks related to human-induced climate change since its establishment in 1988.
• Each assessment engages thousands of scientists worldwide, contributing to global climate negotiation strategies.

Key IPCC Findings

• The Fifth Assessment Report (2014) declared that human influence is extremely likely to be the dominant cause of observed climate warming since the mid-20th century.
• Predictions indicate significant impacts on low-lying areas and agriculture due to rising sea levels and altered growing seasons.

U.S. Domestic Climate Policies

• Political polarization around climate change intensified following differing approaches taken by the Obama and Trump administrations.
• Under Trump, prior commitments to international accords like the Paris Agreement were rescinded.

The Politics of Climate Change

• Public opinion surveys indicate that while a majority of Americans acknowledge climate change, it rarely ranks as a top priority during elections.
• Partisan divisions drive climate policy debates, with active voters on either side showcasing starkly contrasting beliefs regarding climate science.

Challenges Ahead

• Uncertainty persists regarding future U.S. climate policies amid ongoing legal challenges and evolving state-level initiatives aiming to fill the regulatory void.
• Variability in emission reduction rates is anticipated post-Trump regulations, potentially falling short of necessary targets to avert significant global warming.

Conclusion

• The landscape of climate politics is complex and marked by historic debates over science, policy, and the direction of environmental strategies—a narrative that continues to evolve amidst ongoing political and scientific struggles.