CHAPITRE 6 

: LOBBYING IN THE USA

Even though climate change is a tangible phenomenon, the US policies remain largely that of
inaction. D. Trump is accused by many media outlets, but his anti-environmental policies
reflect a divide in the US.
Between the Liberals and the Conservatives, there is a hiatus about climate scepticism. One
of the reasons for that is the polarisation of the American life, and its start in 2001 with the
refusal of Republican President Bush of Kyoto’s protocol.
From that point on, Democrats took on ecology. A few years later, when Donald Trump was
campaigning, his stance on climate change was that it was a hoax from China.
The reason for such a radical stance can be found with the support of the Tea Party (a very
conservative right wing party on the fringes of the Republican party).
The alt-right ideology stems from this party.
Furthermore, a profound rejection of established institutions (ONU, EU…) provides a viable
ground for fake news, conspiracy theories…
There is also a longstanding tradition of distributing the Elite and the Federal Government,
allowing populists and lobbyists to influence the public debate.
Furthermore, medias, traditional or new are spreading their political agendas. Lobbyists have
been successful in planting the idea that natural resources were not so limited and that
economic growth, which is essential to fuel the American way of life could be endless.

I- Defining Lobbying
Lobbying originate from the presidency of Le Grant who would plant himself in the lobby of
his favourite hotel, waiting for people to ask him favour = influence peddling.
It is strongly linked with the 1st amendment and the freedom of petition.
But it has become the field of professionals, that is to say people hired by special groups of
interest to influence which bill is passed on killed.