BONNI COHEN, JON SHENK, PEDRO KOS | USA | 2024 | 96 MIN | ENGLISH
What if the climate crisis could have been stopped before it even started? The White House Effect exposes the high-stakes political battles that altered America’s environmental policy and the planet’s future. This gripping documentary takes viewers behind closed doors to reveal how conflicting agendas in George H.W. Bush’s administration pitted environmental protection against corporate interests. Uncovering political strategies driven by short-term gains and corporate influence, the film shows how U.S. leaders repeatedly sidelined scientific evidence in favor of economic interests. Featuring only archival materials—White House footage, interviews, media clips, and leaked memos—it explores the pivotal decisions that buried early warnings and fueled today’s polarized climate debate. Spanning the ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s, this eye-opening film will leave audiences questioning how close we came to a different future—and what it will take to change course now. A must-see for anyone concerned about the fate of our planet, it provides a compelling lens on the political choices that shaped our current climate crisis.
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