Important Voter Issues: The Climate and Climate Change
Nov 5, 2024
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Introduction of the Issue
Climate change is one of the most significant and urgent challenges facing the world today. With the impacts of global warming becoming more evident in the form of extreme weather events, rising sea levels, and changes to ecosystems, addressing climate change has taken center stage in public discourse. As the 2024 U.S. presidential election approaches, voters will be evaluating the candidates' positions on how to tackle this global crisis. This article will explore the climate change viewpoints of the leading candidates—Kamala Harris, Donald Trump, Tim Walz, and JD Vance—focusing on their past legislative records, proposed policies, and how they plan to approach the issue if elected.
Definition and Context
Climate change refers to long-term changes in global temperature and weather patterns, primarily driven by human activities such as the burning of fossil fuels. This results in the release of greenhouse gasses like carbon dioxide, which contribute to global warming and destabilize weather systems. Climate change leads to a wide range of environmental issues, including rising temperatures, melting ice caps, increased flooding, and disruptions to agriculture and biodiversity.
In response to these concerns, the international community has committed to limiting global warming through agreements like the Paris Climate Agreement, which sets goals for reducing emissions and limiting warming to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels. However, national governments, including the U.S., have had differing approaches to climate policy, often influenced by political ideologies and economic priorities.
Historical Background
The U.S. has a long history of environmental legislation, beginning with the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 1970 under President Richard Nixon and the passage of key environmental laws, such as the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act. The issue of climate change gained prominence in the 1990s with the publication of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reports, which concluded that human activities were driving global warming.
Under President Barack Obama, the U.S. took significant steps to address climate change, including the adoption of the Paris Climate Agreement and the implementation of the Clean Power Plan, which sought to reduce emissions from power plants. However, when President Donald Trump took office, he withdrew the U.S. from the Paris Agreement and rolled back many environmental protections.
Under President Joe Biden, the U.S. rejoined the Paris Agreement, set ambitious emissions reduction goals, and emphasized the importance of green energy and climate justice. As the 2024 election approaches, candidates will present their own visions for U.S. climate policy, which could either continue or radically shift from current trajectories.
Scope of the Issue
The impacts of climate change are far-reaching, affecting not only the environment but also human health, the economy, and global security. In the U.S., climate change has caused an increased frequency of wildfires, heatwaves, hurricanes, and flooding, with particular regions more vulnerable to these effects. Coastal areas face rising sea levels, while inland areas experience droughts and extreme weather events. The agricultural sector is also affected by changing rainfall patterns, temperature shifts, and longer growing seasons, which can disrupt food production.
In addition to these environmental consequences, climate change poses significant economic challenges. Transitioning away from fossil fuels and investing in renewable energy will require large-scale policy changes and infrastructure investments. At the same time, this shift presents economic opportunities, such as job creation in green industries and the clean energy sector.
Internationally, the United States is a key player in global climate efforts. As one of the largest emitters of greenhouse gasses, the U.S. is expected to take a leadership role in reducing emissions and promoting climate resilience worldwide.
Ideological Viewpoints and Candidates' Stances
Kamala Harris
As Vice President of the United States under President Joe Biden, Kamala Harris has been a strong proponent of aggressive climate action. Harris has supported the Biden administration's ambitious climate agenda, which includes rejoining the Paris Climate Agreement and committing to net-zero emissions by 2050. Harris’s record on climate is closely aligned with the Democratic Party's progressive stance on the issue, focusing on both environmental sustainability and economic growth through the transition to clean energy.
Before becoming vice president, Harris was a U.S. Senator from California, where she championed several key climate initiatives. She co-sponsored the Green New Deal—a sweeping policy proposal aimed at tackling climate change through a comprehensive set of measures, including renewable energy investments, green jobs creation, and infrastructure improvements. Harris also introduced legislation to accelerate the transition to 100% clean, renewable energy by 2035 and has called for ambitious targets to cut emissions across sectors.
Her focus on environmental justice is a key aspect of her climate platform, advocating for policies that prioritize vulnerable communities, particularly those in low-income and minority neighborhoods, which are often the hardest hit by climate change impacts. Harris has also emphasized the need for federal investment in clean energy technologies, infrastructure, and research, along with incentives to reduce carbon emissions in the transportation and industrial sectors.
Donald Trump
Donald Trump has been a vocal critic of aggressive climate action, particularly the economic costs associated with stringent environmental regulations. During his presidency, Trump withdrew the United States from the Paris Climate Agreement and rolled back a significant number of environmental protections, including regulations on emissions from power plants and vehicles. Trump argued that these regulations harmed American businesses, particularly industries like coal, oil, and manufacturing, and he prioritized policies aimed at promoting energy independence through fossil fuel production.
Trump’s position on climate change has largely focused on the economic benefits of continued fossil fuel use and deregulation. He supports policies that encourage the development of domestic oil, natural gas, and coal resources, believing that increased energy production strengthens the U.S. economy and reduces reliance on foreign energy sources. Trump has also emphasized that climate change should be addressed through market-driven innovation rather than government mandates.
While Trump has acknowledged the reality of climate change, he has been skeptical at the need for urgent action. His climate platform for the 2024 election is expected to focus on bolstering U.S. energy dominance through the expansion of fossil fuel production, deregulation, and skepticism toward international climate agreements that he views as unfair to the U.S. economy.
Tim Walz
As Governor of Minnesota, Tim Walz has taken steps to address climate change at the state level, advocating for clean energy investments and emissions reductions. Walz has supported the transition to renewable energy, emphasizing that states can be both environmentally responsible and economically prosperous. Under his leadership, Minnesota has expanded its use of wind energy and made investments in energy efficiency, aiming to reduce the state's carbon footprint while creating jobs in the clean energy sector.
Walz has also worked to increase the resilience of communities to climate change impacts, particularly in rural and agricultural regions. His approach to climate change emphasizes a balance between environmental sustainability and economic opportunity, particularly in sectors like agriculture, where climate change can have significant impacts on production. As a vice-presidential candidate, Walz’s platform would likely continue to prioritize a mix of federal incentives for renewable energy and partnerships between state and federal governments to drive climate action.
JD Vance
JD Vance, a U.S. Senator from Ohio, has adopted a more conservative stance on climate change. Vance has expressed skepticism about the economic costs of aggressive climate policies and has criticized the Green New Deal and similar progressive proposals. He supports an energy policy that emphasizes energy independence through fossil fuel development, including the continued use of coal, oil, and natural gas, alongside technological innovations in energy efficiency and carbon capture.
Vance’s position on climate change is informed by a belief that overregulation can harm American workers and businesses, particularly in energy-intensive industries. While he acknowledges climate change, Vance has argued that market-driven solutions, rather than government mandates, are the best way to address the issue. He advocates for an “America-first” approach to energy policy, which would prioritize the growth of domestic energy production and minimize the impact of international climate agreements that may not benefit U.S. industries.
Areas of Debate
Key areas of debate surrounding climate policy in the 2024 election include:
Carbon pricing: Should the U.S. implement a carbon tax or cap-and-trade system to incentivize emissions reductions? Proponents argue that carbon pricing is a market-based solution that encourages businesses to reduce emissions, while critics argue it could raise energy costs for consumers and harm certain industries.
Fossil fuel subsidies: Should the U.S. continue subsidizing the fossil fuel industry, or should these funds be redirected toward renewable energy and energy efficiency programs? The debate centers around whether subsidies for oil, gas, and coal companies contribute to environmental degradation or whether they are essential for energy security.
Energy independence vs. global cooperation: While some candidates focus on energy independence and domestic production, others argue that international cooperation and commitments to global climate agreements are essential for addressing climate change at a global scale.
Bibliography
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Trump Issues Executive Order on Climate Change | Sabin Center for Climate Change Law. climate.law.columbia.edu/content/trump-issues-executive-order-climate-change-0.
Copley, Michael. “A Second Trump Term Could Slow the Shift From Fossil Fuels as Climate Threats Grow.” NPR, 25 June 2024, www.npr.org/2024/06/25/nx-s1-5006573/trump-election-2024-climate-change-fossil-fuels.
Montalbano, Vanessa, et al. “Kamala Harris’s climate policies, explained.” The Washington Post, 10 Sept. 2024, www.washingtonpost.com/politics/interactive/2023/presidential-candidates-2024-policies-issues/kamala-harris-climate-change.
Montalbano, Vanessa, Abbie Cheeseman, and Justine McDanel. “Harris vs. Trump on climate change: Where they stand on the issue.” The Washington Post, 10 Sept. 2024, www.washingtonpost.com/politics/interactive/2024/trump-harris-climate-change.
Summary of Major 2022 Climate and Energy Legislation. 6 Jan. 2023, lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4660#:~:text=Chapter%20337%20of%202022%20(AB,of%20carbon%20neutrality%20by%202045.
United Nations. “The Paris Agreement | United Nations.” United Nations, www.un.org/en/climatechange/paris-agreement.