Climate change and environmental policies of Trump and Harris: A comparison

As the day nears when Americans will vote to choose their next president on November 5, 2024, the battle between Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Kamala Harris is turning intense. While questions on their positions on the economy, immigration, foreign affairs, and gun policy take the main stage for the campaigns, climate change remains a less talked about topic.

Even though climate change is often talked about, it is not one of the top concerns for the voters ahead of the 2024 US presidential elections. According to a Gallup survey, less than 5 per cent of Americans believe climate change and the environment are among the important issues the country is facing.

Why should climate change be an important issue?

Climate change is the shift in average temperatures and weather conditions mainly caused by human activities like the burning of fossil fuels, harmful emissions, and deforestation. Climate change is the leading reason behind extreme weather conditions that we are witnessing today such as increasing heatwaves, wildfires, floods, droughts, hurricanes, and other natural disasters.

According to researchers, Hurricane Milton, which caused devastation and claimed around 25 lives after it made landfall in Florida on October 10, intensified due to climate change. At least 251 people lost their lives due to Hurricane Helene, which struck the same region two weeks before Milton. Over 300 people have died due to hurricanes in the US this year.

Also read | Florida reels from Hurricane Milton: 10 dead, millions left without power

Rise in temperature is another recurring pattern observed due to climate change, with heat waves lasting weeks and making life unbearable for many. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, over 1,300 deaths are recorded per year in the US due to extreme heat. This year, the highest temperature recorded was 53.9 degrees Celsius (129 degrees Fahrenheit) at Death Valley, California, on July 7.

These extreme weather conditions are, no doubt, a by-product of climate change, which is increasingly posing a threat to life. This calls for climate policies that can help reduce the effects of climate change and avert such disasters.

Where do Trump and Kamala stand on climate and energy policies?

Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump have strikingly different views on climate policies. While Harris considers climate change an "existential threat" and joined President Joe Biden’s take on the climate policies, Trump has called it a "hoax" and dismissed the pressing issue.

While both candidates advocate utilising energy sources to boost the economy and keep challenging each other on their policies, neither has given a detailed plan for their climate and energy policies.

Climate policies

During his presidential term from 2017 to 2021, Trump reversed hundreds of policies laid during US President Barack Obama’s term which focused on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and protecting wetlands in the country.

Also read | US Presidential Election 2024: What key issues are driving the polls? Where do Harris and Trump stand on them?

Paris Agreement

During his tenure, Trump withdrew the United States from the 2015 Paris Agreement, a global agreement aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and limiting global temperature increase. However, Biden rejoined the agreement, a decision that Harris supports. Trump has said he will once again pull out of the agreement if he wins the 2024 US presidential elections.

Inflation Reduction Act

The Biden-Harris administration has brought the largest investment in policy related to climate, the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). The $370 billion bill focuses on reducing emissions, promoting electric vehicles, and providing tax credits and subsidies for clean energy projects. According to Harris, her policies created 800,000 new manufacturing jobs during her term as vice president.

However, Trump says she has lost jobs while focusing on renewable energy sources and calls their policies a "green new scam". Rather, he focuses on expanding the fossil fuel industry, which he believes will bring down inflation, generate more jobs, and reduce foreign dependency.

Fossil fuels

Fracking, a technique for extracting oil and gas, has raised issues for the environment as it contributes to greenhouse emissions and potential water contamination. Harris previously called for a ban on fracking, but her views have shifted on it.

"My position is clear: we must invest in diverse energy sources to decrease our reliance on foreign oil," she said in a recent presidential debate.

On the other hand, Trump has remained firm on his views on utilising fossil fuels and increasing the production of oil with his mantra "drill, baby, drill" and "unleash American energy".