The Causes behind the Polarization of Environmentalism in the United States.

Abstract

In recent decades in America, the politics of environmental protection has become increasingly divided. What was once a bipartisan issue has become one of the most split issues in modern day politics. A divide aided and abetted by the mainstream media, politicians and fossil fuel companies who have a vested interest in curbing any robust environment policy. As government officials debated the legitimacy of climate change, the public was left to their own resources, often turning to cable news, where vastly different viewpoints are shared depending on the network. In this paper, I look to find the leading causes of this divide on what was once a widely popular movement, one that was brought too fruition by the party that now tries to discredit all it stands for.