The two main candidates for the presidency of the United States, donald trump and Kamala Harris, They have diametrically opposite opinions on the climate. This turns the November elections into an election between climate skepticism and the energy transition. Neither of them has shown a complete program on this issue, despite the fact that The country is the second largest emitter of greenhouse gases in the world. behind China.
Under the Paris Climate Agreement, The United States has committed to halving its gas emissions by 2030compared to 2005. In 2023had reduced its emissions only 18%according to the research center Rhodium Group. To reach 50%, “we really need to stay the course” in this administration’s policies, but if Trump wins there will be “a 180-degree turn,” he warns. Leah Stokespolitical scientist specialized in climate. “The US elections will have repercussions for the entire planet,” he concluded.
What the main candidates say about the climate
Trump and the climate change “hoax”
The former president calls climate change a “hoax” and has promised to extract fossil fuels “at all costs” if elected. If he returns to power, the Republican’s victory will mean more American greenhouse gas emissions and the country’s disengagement from climate diplomacy.
Thus, American negotiators will lose weight in the COP29which would begin six days after the November 5 elections. He commitment of rich countries like the United States against global warming will be decisive for increasing financial aid to vulnerable countries.
During his mandate (2017-2021), the republican Withdrew Washington from the Paris Climate Agreementand promised to do it again if he is re-elected after his successor Joe Biden reversed the decision. Trump also promised end the “mandatory purchase of electric vehicles”, in reference to a Biden administration approval on auto emissions.
According to a study by the specialized media Carbon BriefTrump’s victory will mean that The United States will emit about 4,000 million tons of CO2 more by 2030the same amount that they jointly emit Europe and Japan in a year.
Harris and her climate commitment
Harris, who attended the COP28, committed to “continue and expand U.S. international leadership on climate.” As a senator, she supported “Green New Deal”a resolution that called for a drastic reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.
Harris supported in 2019, as a candidate for the Democratic primaries, the ban on hydraulic fracturing: a highly polluting hydrocarbon extraction method. However, he backed down because it hurt him among the voters of the state of Pennsylvania.where this sector has an important presence.
During his debate with Trump, defended the need for “diversified energy sources”although he went so far as to boast that the country had “seen the largest increase in national oil production in history.”
Supporters of Kamala Harris and her climate cause
This position of Harris has brought her criticism from various sectors but also assured her of broad support. Much of the environmental movement supports the Democrat and its history of environmental fight.
They cite his work against oil companies when he was California Attorney General and his decisive vote to approve the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)a federal law that allocates a strong investment for the energy transition. Trump, for his part, has not stopped attacking this law and announced that he will “cancel all unspent funds” provided for in the text.
Source: Ambito
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