作為一個集軍事與經濟強權於一身國家，美國同時也是全球排放溫室氣體量最高的國家之一。然而，根據美國過去所參與，對於對抗氣候變遷所召開的國際性會議的紀錄來看，對於此項責任美國並未表現出應有的大國氣度。依據《聯合國氣候變遷綱要公約》(United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, UNFCCC) 自1995年起，聯合國秘書處每年協助召開的締約方會議（Conferences of the Parties, COP）至今累計已有22場，但是美國卻沒有支持或是實踐，任何一個與會各國所達成之具法律約束效力的協議。
不僅如此，與其它國家相較，美國又是對於氣候變遷這項議題，展現出最高反對態度的一個國家。另外，在眾多需要政策決策者注意力的議題中，氣候變遷總是受到關注最少的一項。因此，本論文採用文獻分析法，透過檢視與此項主題相關聯的期刊、書籍、及報章雜誌，期望藉由探討科學界對此議題的共識、相關利益團體的行為、以及人民對此議題的認知，來突顯出美國國內政治論述，對於塑造其反氣候變遷態度的重要性。 In recent years, the globalization that the world has undergone for decades is increasingly experiencing backlashes from within the developed countries. Populist movements espousing anti-globalization sentiments have been exploited by domestic politicians alike. This significant shift in attitude towards globalization is fairly ironic considering that in the beginning, developed countries were the main benefactors and advocates of globalization undergirded by the free trade. With the economic boom that globalization has begotten the world, however, come concerns for the environmental degradation resulted from the unsustainable model of free trade, one instance of which is the challenges posed by climate change.
Historically speaking, the US not only has been benefitting from its greenhouse gas emissions but it also has always been the top greenhouse gas emitter in the world; nevertheless, as its track record shows, during the past 22 annual intergovernmental meetings on climate change, conducted under the auspice of the UN, the US has exhibited its extraordinary reluctance to support none of the resultant climate agreements. Identifying a few potential drivers that may have contributed to such a contrarian attitude towards committing into any legally binding international agreement, the paper aims to highlight the role that domestic political discourse on climate change within the US plays on the formation of its recalcitrant attitude towards the issue of climate change.
