Why United States Will Never Be A Climate Leader

America, despite being one of the most developed nations in the world, has always lagged when it comes to addressing climate change. The country has been unable to take strong actions to curb greenhouse gas emissions, and it has even withdrawn from the Paris Agreement, a global initiative to combat climate change. In this essay, we will examine why America will never be a climate leader and the factors that contribute to this problem.

Introduction

Firstly, the political climate in the United States has always been hostile to climate change initiatives. Politicians and policymakers in the country have often prioritized economic growth over environmental concerns, viewing climate change as a hindrance to economic development. This is particularly true of the current administration, which has rolled back numerous environmental regulations and embraced fossil fuel industries, which are major contributors to greenhouse gas emissions.

Secondly, the American public has also been largely apathetic towards climate change. While there are many environmental organizations and activists in the country, a large segment of the population remains sceptical about climate change and the role of human activity in causing it. This scepticism is fueled by certain media outlets that cast doubt on the scientific consensus surrounding climate change, which makes it harder to mobilize public opinion in favour of climate action.

Thirdly, the United States has a deeply entrenched culture of consumerism and wastefulness, which contributes significantly to carbon emissions. American consumption patterns, particularly regarding transportation and energy use, are some of the highest in the world. Many Americans prioritize convenience and comfort over environmental sustainability, making it difficult to reduce emissions without a significant shift in cultural values.

Fourthly, the country's infrastructure is heavily reliant on fossil fuels. The American transportation system, for example, is built around private cars and trucks, which are major sources of emissions. Public transportation systems in many American cities are underfunded and poorly developed, making it hard for people to switch to low-carbon forms of transportation. Similarly, the country's energy grid is powered primarily by fossil fuels, with renewable sources of energy making up only a small fraction of the total.

Finally, the lack of international leadership on climate change by the United States has had a cascading effect on other countries. America's lack of action sends a signal to other countries that they too can avoid taking action, even though they may have more limited resources than the United States. The United States is seen as a leader in many fields, and its absence from the global effort to combat climate change has significantly hindered progress in other countries.

A Brief History of US Climate Failures

The United States, despite being one of the world's largest emitters of greenhouse gases, has a long history of failing to take meaningful action on climate change. In this essay, we will briefly explore some of the key moments in this history.

1960s - 1980s: Initial Awareness

The 1960s and 1970s saw the emergence of environmental movements in the United States, as Americans became increasingly aware of the impact of industrialization on the environment. In 1970, the first Earth Day was held, and in the following years, Congress passed a series of environmental laws, including the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act.

In the 1980s, the United States began to take an active role in international efforts to address climate change. In 1988, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) was established, and the following year, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) was signed.

The 1990s: Early Global Action and US Resistance

The 1990s saw the emergence of global efforts to address climate change, including the negotiation of the Kyoto Protocol in 1997. The protocol committed developed countries to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by an average of 5.2% below 1990 levels by 2012.

However, the United States, under President George W. Bush, refused to ratify the protocol, arguing that it would harm the country's economy. This decision was widely criticized by other countries and environmental groups.

The 2000s: Failure to Take Action

In the early 2000s, the United States continued to resist global efforts to address climate change. In 2001, the Bush administration announced that it would not regulate carbon dioxide emissions from power plants, automobiles, or other sources. This decision was met with widespread criticism, and several states and environmental groups filed lawsuits against the government.

In 2009, President Barack Obama took office and pledged to take action on climate change. However, despite his efforts, he was unable to pass comprehensive climate legislation through Congress. The failure of the cap-and-trade bill in 2010 marked a significant setback in the fight against climate change.

The 2010s: Paris Agreement and Trump's Withdrawal

In 2015, the Paris Agreement was negotiated, to limit global warming to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels, and pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C. The agreement was widely seen as a major step forward in the global effort to address climate change, and the United States played a key role in its negotiation.

However, in 2017, President Donald Trump announced that the United States would withdraw from the agreement, arguing that it would harm the country's economy. This decision was met with widespread criticism from other countries and environmental groups.

The 2020s: Biden Administration and Progress

In 2021, the United States rejoined the Paris Agreement under President Joe Biden's administration. President Biden has also taken a series of steps to address climate change, including rejoining the World Health Organization and issuing executive orders to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector, increase the use of renewable energy, and phase out the use of fossil fuels on public lands.

However, despite these efforts, the United States still faces significant challenges in addressing climate change. The country's reliance on fossil fuels, resistance from certain industries, and political polarization remain significant obstacles.

How the US continues to fail on climate

Despite some recent progress, the United States continues to fail on climate in several ways. In this essay, we will explore some of the key ways in which the US is falling short in its efforts to address climate change.

Failure to Address Fossil Fuel Use

The United States remains heavily reliant on fossil fuels, including coal, oil, and natural gas. These fuels are major sources of greenhouse gas emissions, which contribute to climate change. While the US has made progress in increasing the use of renewable energy sources like wind and solar, it has not done enough to address its reliance on fossil fuels.

In addition, the US has been slow to address the issue of methane emissions, which are potent greenhouse gas. Methane is emitted during the production and transportation of natural gas, as well as from livestock and other sources. While the US has taken some steps to address methane emissions, these efforts have been insufficient to address the scale of the problem.

Political Polarization

Climate change has become a highly politicized issue in the United States, with Republicans and Democrats often holding vastly different views on the subject. This polarization has made it difficult to pass comprehensive climate legislation and has led to several setbacks in the fight against climate change.

For example, during the Obama administration, Republicans in Congress blocked the passage of the cap-and-trade bill, which would have placed a price on carbon emissions. Similarly, during the Trump administration, the Republican-controlled Congress rolled back several environmental regulations, including those aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Resistance from Certain Industries

Certain industries, such as the oil and gas industry, have resisted efforts to address climate change. These industries have significant political power and have lobbied against environmental regulations that would require them to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.

In addition, some states, such as Texas and Oklahoma, have passed laws that make it more difficult for renewable energy sources to compete with fossil fuels. These laws include restrictions on the construction of wind turbines and solar panels and subsidies for fossil fuel industries.

Inadequate Infrastructure

The United States has significant infrastructure challenges when it comes to addressing climate change. For example, the country's transportation system is heavily reliant on cars and trucks, which are major sources of greenhouse gas emissions. While the Biden administration has taken steps to increase the use of electric vehicles and reduce emissions from transportation, these efforts will take time to implement and may face resistance from the automotive industry.

Similarly, the US power grid is outdated and inefficient and is not designed to handle large amounts of renewable energy. This means that as the US increases its use of wind and solar power, it will need to invest in new infrastructure to support these sources of energy.

Lack of International Leadership

The United States has historically been a leader in international efforts to address climate change. However, the country's withdrawal from the Paris Agreement under the Trump administration damaged its reputation as a global leader on climate issues.

While the Biden administration has taken steps to repair this damage by rejoining the Paris Agreement and engaging in international climate diplomacy, it remains to be seen whether the US will be able to regain its leadership role on this issue.

How the US exported its climate failures abroad

The United States has not only failed to adequately address climate change domestically but has also exported its climate failures abroad. Here are some ways in which the US has contributed to global climate change and hindered efforts to mitigate its effects.

Carbon Emissions from Exports

The US is a major exporter of fossil fuels, including coal, oil, and natural gas. The carbon emissions from these exports are not counted towards the US's domestic carbon footprint, but they still contribute to global greenhouse gas emissions. The US is the world's largest exporter of natural gas and the second-largest exporter of coal.

This means that the US is not only failing to address its greenhouse gas emissions but is also contributing to climate change on a global scale. The emissions from these exports are particularly damaging in countries with weaker environmental regulations and less capacity to adapt to the impacts of climate change.

Resistance to International Climate Agreements

The US has a long history of resistance to international climate agreements. For example, the country refused to ratify the Kyoto Protocol, which was aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and later withdrew from the Paris Agreement under the Trump administration.

The US's resistance to these agreements has weakened international efforts to address climate change and hindered progress on global climate action. It has also sent a message to other countries that they can prioritize their economic interests over global environmental concerns.

Promotion of Fossil Fuel Infrastructure Abroad

The US has promoted the development of fossil fuel infrastructure abroad through its diplomatic and economic policies. For example, the US has provided financial and technical assistance to support the development of coal-fired power plants in other countries, even though coal is a major source of greenhouse gas emissions.

In addition, the US has been a major supporter of fracking, a controversial technique used to extract natural gas. The US has promoted the use of fracking in other countries, including Poland and Ukraine, despite concerns about its environmental impacts and the potential for methane leaks.

Undermining International Climate Finance

The US has also played a role in undermining international climate finance. Developed countries have pledged to provide financial assistance to developing countries to help them adapt to the impacts of climate change and transition to a low-carbon economy. However, the US has been slow to fulfil its financial commitments and has blocked efforts to increase funding for climate action.

In addition, the US has attempted to shift the burden of climate finance onto developing countries, arguing that they should contribute more to the global effort. This stance has hindered progress on climate finance and undermined the US's credibility as a global leader on climate change.

Lack of Leadership in Climate Action

Finally, the US's lack of leadership on climate action has hurt other countries' efforts to address climate change. The US has historically been a leader in international efforts to address climate change, but its recent failures have weakened its ability to lead on this issue.

How the United States can Change and become a Climate Leader

The United States has the potential to become a climate leader by taking bold actions to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions and by collaborating with other countries to address climate change. Here are some key steps that the US can take to become a leader in the fight against climate change:

Implement Strong Climate Policies

One of the most important steps that the US can take to become a climate leader is to implement strong climate policies. This could include setting ambitious emissions reduction targets, investing in renewable energy, and implementing regulations on emissions from the transportation sector and other industries.

Transition to Clean Energy

The US can also become a climate leader by transitioning away from fossil fuels and towards clean energy sources, such as wind, solar, and geothermal energy. This transition would not only help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions but would also create new jobs and stimulate economic growth.

Invest in Climate Resilience

As the impacts of climate change become more severe, the US need to invest in climate resilience measures. This could include building sea walls to protect against rising sea levels, planting trees to reduce the risk of wildfires, and developing drought-resistant crops.

Collaborate with Other Countries

The US can also become a climate leader by collaborating with other countries to address climate change. This could include participating in international climate agreements, such as the Paris Agreement, and providing financial and technical support to developing countries that are working to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change.

Educate and Engage the Public

Finally, the US can become a climate leader by educating and engaging the public on the issue of climate change. This could include promoting public awareness campaigns, providing information on the benefits of clean energy, and encouraging individuals to take action, such as reducing energy consumption and supporting clean energy policies.

For the US to become a climate leader, it will require political will and leadership at all levels of government, as well as the support of businesses, communities, and individuals across the country. However, by taking these steps, the US can not only reduce its greenhouse gas emissions but also help to create a more sustainable and equitable future for all people.