In 1988, George H. W. Bush ran, and won, a presidential campaign as the “environmental candidate” amid growing concerns about the greenhouse effect, a process in which the sun’s heat is trapped in the Earth’s atmosphere by greenhouse gases. The burning of fossil fuels has increased the presence of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, causing it to trap even more heat. Global warming was already apparent in 1988, the hottest year on record and one plagued by endless heat waves and droughts. Global warming was not a controversial political issue then but an accepted truth, one that both sides agreed had to be addressed. Using cleverly curated archival footage, The White House Effect provides gripping and ironic commentary on this now-polarizing issue and documents how tensions that arose during Bush’s administration have continued to shape U.S. policy to this day.  BD

Q&A following screening.