Environmental attitudes and political partisanship

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Public Health
• Political Science

Background:

• Climate change, driven by greenhouse gas emissions, poses significant global risks.
• The United States' federal-level inaction on climate policy is a major concern due to its high carbon emissions.
• Political partisanship significantly influences environmental attitudes and policy development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the influence of political partisanship on environmental attitudes concerning climate change in the U.S.
• To explore the public health implications stemming from these attitudes and policy gaps.

Main Methods:

• An integrative literature review was conducted.
• Searched English articles from January 2013 to March 2013 across multiple databases (CINAHL, PubMed, etc.).
• Included empirical, review articles, and internet sources.

Main Results:

• Political partisanship, particularly conservative skepticism, impedes climate change remediation efforts in the U.S.
• This inaction exacerbates global warming and climate change consequences.
• A paradigm shift from consumption-driven growth to sustainable prosperity is needed.

Conclusions:

• Political partisanship presents a critical challenge to public health professionals.
• Environmental preservation must be prioritized over economic growth for a habitable planet.
• Addressing political divides is essential for effective climate action and public health protection.