As for your last two questions, Anthropogenic Global Warming became a political issue when the then Senator Al Gore tried to descredit Richard Lindzen at Congress. From then on it became a political option between Conservatism and Liberalism. As in Europe about 80% of the voters support Liberal politics this division was never apparent, but it is quite so in the US.
denialist
I love that word.
I didn't know that about the PP. The issue is that the People's party is undermined by Liberals. Take for instance the case of Barroso, when he joined the portuguese liberal party (PSD) it belong to the European Liberal group; somewhere during the turning of the century they simply left and joined the conservatives, in so doing gaining practical grip on the Parliament.
And before you know it, a man that started his carer in the Communist Workers party is head of the Commission backed by Conservative Europe :-)
The debate on Anthropogenic Global Warming shouldn't be a plitical option, like every scientific issue. Vencit omnia veritas.
