WWWforEurope Lecture Series: Sustainability and the Future of US-European Relations

An analysis of political contributions in the 2012 election shows that a bloc of industries with obvious concerns about climate issues, including oil, chemicals, paper, and mining, has formed. This bloc overwhelmingly supported Republican candidates at both presidential and congressional levels. Its steadfast opposition to action on climate change plays a major role in the political polarisation that now paralyses US politics. – Since the end of the Bush administration there has been an international debate on what kind of world will emerge. Where is Europe in this debate? Among US academics Europe plays only a marginal role. Their main concerns are the decline of the USA and the rise of China.