Climate Policy in the 2024 Election: Where Do Candidates Stand?
Copyright AP Photo/Alex Brandon | AP Photo/Stephen B. Morton
As the 2024 presidential election approaches, it’s important to consider how each candidate has publicly spoke about this topic. Trump and Harris both have different visions for climate change. Here is an overview of their approaches.
Donald Trump’s Climate Policy
Trump focuses on a significant rollback existing climate regulations. He talks about how he wants to increase fossil fuel production to achieve energy independence, essentially helping to boost the economy.. Here are some key approaches he has for his climate policies:
Rescinding the Inflation Reduction Act: Trump plans to withdraw unspent funds from this act. Currently this act helps subsidize clean energy technologies. He quotes “To further defeat inflation, my plan will terminate the Green New Deal, which I call the Green New Scam,” the former president said before the Economic Club of New York in wide-ranging remarks focused on the economy, likening Biden’s agenda to a “waste” of money. https://www.politico.com/news/2024/09/05/trump-inflation-reduction-act-00177493
Trump also wants to reverse power plant and vehicle efficiency rules. He wants to dismantle regulation targeting pollution from power and plants and goes agaisnt the idea of auto-emission standards that are aiming at increasing use of EV, which essentially solves climate change. https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/climate-energy/how-trump-would-seek-dismantle-bidens-climate-legacy-2024-09-05/
Trump said in his Sept. 5 speech that he would "end the electric vehicle mandate."
However as Elon Musk endorses trump, he later publicly came out to say that, those company may be able to eke out an advantage against rivals even if Trump axes vehicle pollution limits further or rolls back EV subsidies. https://www.reuters.com/breakingviews/donald-trump-might-be-bad-evs-good-tesla-2024-07-23/
Another important decision that Trump wants to make is withdrawing from the Paris Agreement. He said that he wanted to leave the international climate pact, claiming that if not, it would lead to disadvantages for the US.
During his 2017-2021 term as U.S. president, Trump withdrew the United States from the Paris Agreement, an international pact to fight climate change, arguing it was unnecessary and put the country at a competitive disadvantage to China.
Trump’s campaign said he’d do it again if he wins in November.
Most of his goals are more aimed for economic prosperity, rather than focusing on the issue of climate change.
Kamala Harris’s Climate Policy
Vice President Kamala Harris contrasts to Trump, approaching climate change with urgency. Her stance on it empahsizes the essential transtion to renewable energy and reduction of carbon emissions.
One big thing she adovcates for is advancing in renewable energy. Harris fights for a more increased investment in wind, solar, and other clean energy sources that people can use. She aims for a more carbon polllution-free power sector by the year of 2025.
Harris expressed her commitment to environmental justice by talking about the disproportionate impact of climate change on marginalized communities. She says in a speech at Coppin State University
Baltimore, Maryland in July 14, 2023. : “And so, we set an ambitious goal to cut our greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2030 and to reach net-zero emissions by 2050. The investment we are announcing today will help us to achieve these goals, and it will do so much more, because think also about the impact on not only the local economy, not only on an investment in the entrepreneurs and innovators from and in the community. Think about the impact on something like public health. “
Harris also focuses on balancing energy needs. While she puts in efforts to promote energy, Harris acknowledges the current reliance on fossil fuels and supports a gradual transition to ensure the security of energy.
Each candidate has different approaches to climate change, it’s up to the voters to determine which climate policies should be more urgent. It’s important to note that we need focus on regulations that protect our planet. Trump’s urgency for economic prosperities while our earth is slowly crumbling is selfish and benefits only a small amount of people.
So, let’s show up, cast our ballots, and decide the path forward. Because when it comes to climate, we’re not just choosing a president—we’re choosing our future.
