Why does the United States lack a global warming policy? The corporate inner circle versus public interest sector elites

The United States chose an approach to global warming that came to be viewed by much of the international community as a barrier to effective action. In explaining why, this article analyzes the interaction of the domestic political process and international negotiations. It argues that—while external pressures brought to bear through the negotiations leading up to UNCED pushed the domestic agenda on global warming—the nature of the political process, in combination with the nature of the global warming issue itself, set the general limits for U.S. participation in cooperative international arrangements to manage global warming. That is, given the broad set of interests activated by global warming concerns and the ready access those interests had to decision-making bodies through a pluralist policy process, consensus on an approach to global warming proved impossible. The U.S., unwilling to accept international commitments that obligated it to domestic actions, thwarted efforts to get an international treaty containing firm targets and timetables.

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The Measure of All Things

Historical Studies in the Natural Sciences ◽

10.1525/hsns.2018.48.4.403 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 48 (4) ◽

pp. 403-440 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Jérôme Lamy

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Global Warming ◽

Large Range ◽

The United States ◽

Significant Rise ◽

The Other ◽

Satellite Mission ◽

Sea Levels ◽

Joint Mission ◽

The 1960S

The TOPEX/POSEIDON satellite mission to observe the oceans triggered the formation of the new specialty of space oceanography from the 1970s to 1990s. Previously, in the 1960s in the United States, traditional oceanographers had shown little interest in the possibilities of space and thus space engineers and physicists worked on the first missions (Seasat in particular). TOPEX/POSEIDON brought together two projects, one American (TOPEX) and the other French (POSEIDON). The gradual crystallization of the disciplinary specialty of space oceanography occurred by making available a platform of instruments able to meet an ensemble of varied needs. Battery failures just before the launch of the joint mission meant that the mission had to focus on the essentials (notably El Niño effects). Subsequently, the discovery of a significant rise in sea levels due to global warming resulted in space oceanography becoming a recognized specialty. The case of TOPEX/POSEIDON shows the original ways in which instruments gained a place in the very large range of oceanographic techniques.

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Preventing Global Warming: The United States, China, and Intellectual Property

Business and Society Review ◽

10.1111/j.1467-8594.2010.00370.x ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 115 (4) ◽

pp. 417-436

Author(s):

CHRIS K. AJEMIAN ◽

DAVID MCHARDY REID

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Global Warming ◽

Intellectual Property ◽

The United States

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Public Interest and Behavior Change in the United States Regarding Colorectal Cancer Following the Death of Chadwick Boseman: Infodemiology Investigation of Internet Search Trends Nationally and in At-Risk Areas (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.29387 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Nicholas B Sajjadi ◽

Kaylea Feldman ◽

Samuel Shepard ◽

Arjun K Reddy ◽

Trevor Torgerson ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Colorectal Cancer ◽

United States ◽

At Risk ◽

Colon Cancer ◽

Public Interest ◽

Black Population ◽

The United States ◽

American Cancer Society ◽

Cancer Society ◽

Search Volume

BACKGROUND Colorectal cancer (CRC) has the third highest cancer mortality rate in the United States. Enhanced screening has reduced mortality rates; however, certain populations remain at high risk, notably African Americans. Raising awareness among at-risk populations may lead to improved CRC outcomes. The influence of celebrity death and illness is an important driver of public awareness. As such, the death of actor Chadwick Boseman from CRC may have influenced CRC awareness. OBJECTIVE We sought to assess the influence of Chadwick Boseman’s death on public interest in CRC in the United States, evidenced by internet searches, website traffic, and donations to prominent cancer organizations. METHODS We used an auto-regressive integrated moving average model to forecast Google searching trends for the topic “Colorectal cancer” in the United States. We performed bivariate and multivariable regressions on state-wise CRC incidence rate and percent Black population. We obtained data from the American Cancer Society (ACS) and the Colon Cancer Foundation (CCF) for information regarding changes in website traffic and donations. RESULTS The expected national relative search volume (RSV) for colorectal cancer was 2.71 (95% CI 1.76-3.66), reflecting a 3590% (95% CI 2632%-5582%) increase compared to the expected values. With multivariable regression, the statewise RSV increased for each percent Black population by 1.09 (SE 0.18, <i>P</i><.001), with 42% of the variance explained (<i>P</i><.001). The American Cancer Society reported a 58,000% increase in CRC-related website traffic the weekend following Chadwick Boseman’s death compared to the weekend before. The Colon Cancer Foundation reported a 331% increase in donations and a 144% increase in revenue in the month following Boseman’s death compared to the month prior. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that Chadwick Boseman’s death was associated with substantial increases in awareness of CRC. Increased awareness of CRC may support earlier detection and better prognoses.

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