As the U.S. presidential election nears, the candidates’ positions on climate change showcase a stark contrast.
Democratic candidate Kamala Harris calls climate change an “existential threat” but has yet to outline a detailed environmental strategy. Meanwhile, Republican candidate Donald Trump has dismissed climate change as “one of the greatest scams of all time,” underscoring his skeptical approach.
Harris has stressed the urgency of climate action, although her plans remain somewhat ambiguous. In contrast, Trump’s record includes significant rollbacks of environmental regulations during his presidency, reinforcing his opposition to climate action.
An in-depth look at Kamala Harris and Donald Trump’s diverging climate policies reveals significant policy rifts:
Trump recently proposed to dismantle what he terms the Biden administration’s “kamikaze climate regulations,” pledging to reverse greenhouse gas restrictions on power plants and vehicles. During his first term, Trump withdrew the U.S. from the Paris climate accord and reversed over 100 environmental protections, moves President Biden later reversed by rejoining the Paris Agreement.
Trump has criticized the Paris accord, describing it as “a rip-off,” and has promised to withdraw from similar initiatives if re-elected. His view reflects a general Republican skepticism about climate change, with doubts about its validity, human causation, or the feasibility of clean energy.
Support from the fossil fuel industry has fueled environmentalists’ concerns that Trump might dismantle policies aimed at climate resilience if he returns to office. He also recently downplayed Hurricane Helene, calling it a “little hurricane” and suggested “nuclear warming” as a greater threat than climate change.
Following Hurricane Helene, a Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory study linked climate change to a 50% increase in rainfall in affected regions, though Trump continues to question climate science.
Kamala Harris’ stance centers on proactive climate policies. The Washington Post reports that she regards climate change as a serious threat and has a record of holding oil companies accountable. As vice president, she cast the deciding vote for the Inflation Reduction Act, which dedicates around $370 billion to cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 40% from 2005 levels by the decade’s end.
Harris has spoken on the rising risks posed by climate change, such as extreme weather events, and in 2022, she announced $1 billion in grants to help states tackle flooding and extreme heat. She aims for the U.S. to halve emissions by 2030 and has supported both government and market-driven solutions for addressing climate change. Known for her advocacy of electric vehicles, she visited Detroit in May to announce federal grants for EV supply chain support.
The candidates’ contrasting climate views will likely remain central in the election debate as both face scrutiny on their environmental policies.
