This book places the evolution of US policy within broader debates on the politics of climate change in the USA and argues that there still exists a latent potential, often obscured by the complexities of the political system, for America to act as a world leader on the issue.

Hugh Atkinson is a tutor in politics and sustainability at London South Bank University. He is a distinguished research fellow at the Schumacher Institute for Sustainable Solutions, Bristol. His main research specialism is in the politics of climate change.

Introduction. Chapter one Two decades of change: consensus and conflict.Chapter two The Obama Presidency. Chapter three Interests, Influence and Power. Chapter four The Politics of Energy. Chapter five Action on Climate Change at State and City Level. Chapter six The USA as a World Leader in Tackling Climate Change and Building a More Sustainable World: Opportunities and Constraints. Conclusion