An Historical Perspective of the Global Warming Movement
Many people’s first exposure to the issue of global warming likely came upon watching Al Gore’s award-winning 2006 documentary film, “An Inconvenient Truth”. I remember a friend telling me that I HAD to see this film. Of course, I was planning on watching the film at some point, but I was in no hurry because I felt that I was already fairly well-versed on the issue of climate change. But my friend’s reaction indicated that other well-informed folks were not.
Before beginning to describe the chronology and some of the key events that have affected the Global Warming movement, a brief discussion about what is, and what causes, global warming is in order. Carbon dioxide (CO2), along with other gases, heats the Earth by trapping heat from the sun in the atmosphere. This heating is important because it is one of the factors that make Earth hospitable. However, the recent dramatic increase in society’s burning of fossil fuels such as coal, gas, and oil, as well as the clear-cutting of forestland (forests store CO2), has severely increased the amount of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere. As a result, temperatures are rising unnaturally. What is Global Warming? Retrieved
In an attempt to try and figure out what is causing climate change, for years scientists studied the events and natural cycles that influence our climate. Unfortunately, they determined that the increased amount of warming cannot be explained by natural cycles or environmental events. It then became clear to the experts that this increased warming was being caused by humans emitting greenhouse gases, which are produced as a result of burning fossil fuels. Causes of Global Warming. Retrieved
It is also important to point out some of the key events of the environmental movement generally, before discussing Global Warming specifically. On
In January 1990, a conference on Race and the Incidence of Environmental Hazards was held in
Turning now to the Global Warming movement, although research and debate was already taking place regarding climate change, in 1983, the Environmental Protection Agency issued a report (and started a controversy) by stating that future temperature rise could be catastrophic. This report prompted the New York Times to write in a front-page story that this was the first time a Federal agency had confirmed that global warming was "not a theoretical problem but a threat whose effects will be felt within a few years." Weart, S. (2008) The Discovery of Global Warming,
Unfortunately for the movement, public interest in global warming waned during the mid-80s, as the issue of climate change faded from the news. At around this time, it was estimated that only half of the American public were aware of the problem. Even more alarmingly, people who had heard about climate change generally saw it as something that the next generation could deal with. Weart, S. Retrieved
All that changed on
This new wave of media attention was just what the movement needed and it served not only to educate more people about the issue, but to stir them to action. In fact, the environmental movement, which up until then seemed to have little interest in climate change, now changed its view and saw fit to champion the cause. Citizen activist groups such as Greenpeace, the Environmental Defense Fund, and the Sierra Club, as well as many other organizations made addressing global warming one of their foremost priorities. Weart, S. Retrieved
What had the possibility of being another milestone for the movement, the December 1997 international Kyoto Climate Conference, was disappointingly not. Although television stories dealing with climate change increased from only a dozen for the time period of July-September, 1997, stories jumped to over 200 in the period of October-December, 1997. Unfortunately, after the Conference ended, the increased awareness faded away very quickly, leaving almost no change in public opinion. Even though polls conducted in the 1990s found that approximately half of Americans thought climate change was here and real. Weart, S. Retrieved
To exacerbate the situation, then came what might be referred to as the “dark ages” of the movement, namely, the Administration of George Bush (2001-2009). Shortly after becoming President, Bush stated clearly that he would never impose the limits on CO2 that the previous administration and the rest of the world agreed upon at the Kyoto Conference. Thereafter, Bush rejected any steps to control emissions, or even participate in discussions about the issue. Weart, S. Retrieved
But in May 2006, a new ray of hope emerged with the opening of Al Gore’s award winning documentary, An Inconvenient Truth. By itself, it served to inform and educate a new generation of potential activists. Just as importantly, it served to influence important policymakers. Weart, S. Retrieved
Today, with a new Administation, one that sees Global Warming as not only relevant, but in urgent need of attention, the movement has been invigorated and recharged. Measurable progress can already be seen, with the release last month of legislation aimed at limiting greenhouse gases by requiring polluters to receive or buy emission permits, with the number of available permits — the “cap” in “cap and trade” — gradually falling over time. Although the legislation is not perfect (what new legislation is?), it is an important step that has been long overdue. “After all the years of denial, after all the years of inaction, we finally have a chance to do something major about climate change.” Krugman, P., The Perfect, the Good, the Planet, New York Times, Published:
And it’s about time.
Global Warming and Theories of Social Movements
I will now discuss how the global warming movement might be described in light of the following theories and approaches.
I. Mass Society Theory
Under the Mass Society theory, social movements occur when a society loses its regular and normal organizations, like clubs or churches, which unhappy folks could join. When this theory was first introduced, scholars saw this type of movement arising out of unhappiness in a society, and such unhappiness was seen as being atypical. These days, societal movements are seen as normal, and part of the usual political process. Goodwin, J., & Jasper, J. (Eds.). (2009) Introduction, The Social Movements Reader, (p. 11)
The Global Warming movement has recently begun to take shape as a mass, large-scale institution since it has gathered strength from environmental groups, politically-motivated citizens, churches, schools, and governments. It has begun to act more like a full-scale revolution and not just a social movement.
II. Rational Approaches Such as Resource Mobilization and Political Process Theories
A. Resource Mobilization Theory
Under the resource mobilization theory, social movements are seen as consisting of formal institutions. Goodwin & Jasper, p. 6. One requirement for any functioning institution or organization is resources or, more specifically, money. A society’s wealth, and its penchant for contributions to an organization or movement, directly corresponds to the number of movements in existence, and their relative success. Goodwin & Jasper, p. 11.
This theory is not very useful to describe the Global Warming movement because this movement is further along in gaining momentum amongst citizens and in setting criteria to reach its goals in several countries that have far less resources than the
B. Political Process Theory
Under the political process theory, certain social movements are seen as overtly political, where society is making its demands for change upon the state, or other form of government. Experts believe that political process movements occur not because of protestors’ efforts but, instead, as a result of an opportunity or change provided by government, such as when there is a decrease of oppression against a group, or a divergence of interests among policymakers. Goodwin & Jasper, p. 6, 12.
This theory can easily be used to describe the Global Warming movement because much of what has caused the movement to gain momentum, and hopefully achieve some of its goals, has been based on the success of activist organizations, the media, and ordinary citizens to insist on changing the view of politicians and pushing our government to use the political process to effectuate change.
Under the cultural approach of social movements, several factors are examined, including perceptions, ideas, rhetoric, emotions, moral intuitions or sensibilities, the creation of symbols, the process of how people come to believe they are aggrieved, and the notion of solidarity among members. Of these factors, the two components most important are 1) the way the leaders of the movement frame the issues to maximize new members and support among the general public and, 2) the collective identity created by the group to stimulate interest and foster loyalty. Goodwin & Jasper, p. 6, 13-14.
Emotions certainly play a big part in social movements. For instance, depending on the language used to describe the opposition, “inherently malevolent” versus “well-meaning but ignorant”, an organizer can stir up different emotions. Jasper, J. (2009) The Emotions of Protest, The Social Movements Reader, (p. 177)
Again, the Global Warming movement can easily be described using the cultural and emotional approaches. The success of the movement is in large part due to its emotional message, which has a direct impact on people’s everyday lives. Much of the movement has been described as a way to protect our land for generations to come – a forceful emotional plea that causes people to think about the futures of their children and grandchildren. In addition, a recent impact on the movement has been the acknowledgement of religious groups and leaders of the need to stop global warming to protect “God’s green earth.” This has certainly had the effect of organizing many more people around the movement who may not have done so without that cultural stimulus.
Nice job on the blog I really enjoy getting a little more familiar with the issue. I do have to say that my thoughts before reading this blog were like many other Americans, not very educated in the issue and not giving it much attention to it. Would you say that Al Gore help the movement or did he only use the movement to help out his own ratings?
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