In 1988, then Vice President George Bush Sr. declared that the country would soon experience “The White House effect” – an active presidential commitment to curbing the greenhouse effect if Bush himself were to be elected. With brilliant archival production, this documentary tracks political campaigns, media stories, environmental convenings, and internal memos from the federal government and oil companies to tell the story of how the US has dealt with climate change since the discovery of excess CO2 in the atmosphere. By allowing each historical moment to tell the story chronologically, the film offers profound insights into the United States’ failure and inaction — and the fight that has been there all along.

Science on Screen® is an initiative of the Coolidge Corner Theatre with major support from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.