NATIONAL POLICIES AS IMPEDIMENT TO THE PARIS CLIMATE CHANGE AGREEMENT: THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IN FOCUS

Abstract

This paper, in reliance of the ‘Metaphor of Two-Level Games Theory, examined the policy somersaults of successive administrations of the U.S. on global environmental issues. The paper discovered that domestic interests in the U.S. interfere with its global environmental issues. Climate change in the U.S. is politics intertwined on economic, political and social complexes often handled along party ideological leanings. The Republican Party, leadership, and supporters (e.g. the coal and fossil fuel industries) who are the principal owners/beneficiaries of agricultural and natural resource lands are adamant to accept climate change science; arguing policies and actions on climate change are likely to impact majorly on these interests and so reneges on climate science, not excluding organising backlashes against environmental groups. The paper recommended in making the case that the focus on the U.S. can inform developments elsewhere. Furthermore, it recommended that the average American and indeed the Republican Party followership should have a rethink to consider climate change as a subsisting calamity rather than trivialising climate change science on account of party identification, political ideology, relative concern about environmental conservation vis-à-vis economic growth and party’s affinity with the global oil industry.