Why, with green so ubiquitous in media and culture, is it not higher up on the political agenda?

Emily Gertz says it’s because the green grassroots aren’t involved in party politics.

Help Grist raise $25,000 by September 30 to further advance our climate reporting

Matthew Yglesias points to new survey data from American Environics (PDF) which indicate that concern for the environment is broad but shallow. While everyone claims to care about environmental issues, nobody — not even those who rate their concern the highest — makes them a priority in the voting booth.

Is it one of those two, or something else?