New Doc 'The White House Effect' Traces U.S. Climate Divide to Bush's 1992 Inaction
A new documentary, 'The White House Effect', reveals how the first Bush administration's handling of climate change set the stage for today's divisive U.S. climate politics. The film traces its origins to the 1988 presidential campaign when George H.W. Bush promised to address global warming as a bipartisan issue.
During his campaign, Bush pledged to combat global warming, a stance that resonated with voters. However, once in office, he faced internal divisions. His chief of staff, John Sununu, was a climate skeptic, while EPA Administrator William Reilly emphasized the urgency of action. Sununu's influence led to a meeting of climate 'skeptics' in 1991, including prominent contrarians like Pat Michaels and Richard Lindzen.
At the 1992 U.N. Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, the U.S. blocked an international agreement to limit emissions. Despite pressure to make a strong commitment, Bush opposed setting international emissions targets. This decision, according to the documentary, was influenced by disinformation campaigns from the fossil fuel industry aiming to sow doubt about climate science. Reilly later regretted Bush's lack of commitment, believing it could have depoliticized the U.S. climate dialogue.
The documentary highlights how the Bush administration's actions, or inactions, on climate change laid the groundwork for the partisan divide that persists today. It serves as a reminder of the influence of special interests and the consequences of delayed action on global warming.
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