The U.S. has fallen well behind Europe in recognizing climate change and its implications.

Judge as of 2007-09-28 whether the US was well behind Europe in recognising climate change and its implications, measured by government policy and official acceptance (e.g. Kyoto ratification, the EU Emissions Trading Scheme, national targets) and by public opinion surveys of that period. True: the US clearly lagged on both, e.g. it did not ratify Kyoto, had no federal carbon pricing, and showed lower public concern in comparative polls. Mostly true: the US clearly lagged on policy, with a smaller gap in some measures such as public opinion or state-level action. Mixed: the US lagged on some measures and matched Europe on others. Mostly false: the gap was small, or limited to a narrow area. False: the US was level with or ahead of Europe.

Set before the research began.

1. E1 International Actions Congressional Research Service (via EveryCRSReport) · 24 January 2007

   “The United States has not ratified the Protocol, and thus is not bound by its provisions.”

2. E2 Climate Change and the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS): Kyoto and Beyond Congressional Research Service (via EveryCRSReport) · 27 August 2007

   “A “Phase 1” trading period began January 1, 2005.”

3. E3 Chapter 2. Global Threats: The World’s Shifting Agenda Pew Research Center (Pew Global Attitudes Project) · 27 June 2007

   “In the United States, slightly less than half (47%) rate warming as a very serious concern, while another 28% say it is somewhat serious.”

4. E4 Chapter 2. Global Threats: The World’s Shifting Agenda Pew Research Center (Pew Global Attitudes Project) · 27 June 2007

   “Public opinion in Great Britain mirrors the U.S. view: Less than half (45%) say it is very serious while another 37% rate it as a somewhat serious concern.”

The evidence shows the US had not ratified Kyoto [E1] and that the EU trading scheme's first period began in 2005 [E2]. It does not show whether European countries had ratified Kyoto or whether the US had a comparable federal scheme. The survey figures show similar concern in the US and Great Britain [E3][E4], so the evidence does not establish that the US clearly lagged Europe as the criteria require.