Abstract
This article examines recent public attitudes in the United States towards climage change (global warming). This article analyzes this issue in the context of the following topics: the rise of environmental NPOs in the U.S.; the relations between them and the two major American political parties (Democrats and Republicans); the influence exerted by environmental NPOs in Washington, D.C.; oil prices and globalization; recent public opinion polls concerning global warming; thoughts and activities of Albert Gore on global warming; and IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change). Americans are increasingly concerned about global warming but they tend to prioritize non-environmental issues over environmental issues in policy urgency. What is reported in the Japanese press about American debates over global warming can be potentially misleading.
