Climate change is a uniquely heated issue in U.S. politics. There are disagreements not only on what to do but also on how urgent the issue is to begin with.
While most agree that the climate is changing, there is debate over the degree to which human activity has contributed to (and can do anything about) a changing climate. This impacts people’s views on policy decisions central to this topic, such as:
- What types of energy the U.S. uses (fossil fuels vs clean/renewable energy)
- Where the U.S. gets its energy (domestic production vs imports)
- How the U.S. regulates or incentivizes environmentally friendly practices
- Whether the U.S. works with other countries to combat climate change
Global Average Surface Temperature (ºC) compared to average temp from 1901-2000
Source: National Centers for Environmental Information
Both Sides
Republicans generally rank climate change near the bottom of their policy priorities, saying that Earth’s climate has been warming and cooling since the beginning of time and that humans’ impact on that change is unproven. They argue climate regulations harm the world’s fossil fuel-dependent economy (reducing jobs and overall prosperity) without meaningfully impacting the climate. Republicans generally support investing in clean/renewable energy alongside domestic oil and gas drilling as a way to reduce pollution and ensure the U.S. isn’t dependent on foreign adversaries for energy.
Democrats generally rank climate change near the top of their policy priorities, often citing a moral obligation to protect the environment for future generations. They argue science has definitively linked human behavior to the warming climate and support government regulations (like caps on emissions and subsidies for renewable energy) to alter human behavior, as well as working with other countries to combat climate change. Democrats generally believe that developing renewable energy solutions and upgrading U.S. infrastructure to be more climate-friendly will create jobs and help, not hurt, the economy.
While there’s disagreement over climate change, there’s a lot of common ground when it comes to climate/energy policy:
- 69% support America becoming carbon neutral by 2050
- 68% say the country should diversify energy sources but don’t want fossil fuels phased out completely
- 66% support the federal government incentivizing wind and solar power production
Terms to Know
- Clean energy: Energy sources that do not release greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere, including solar, wind, geothermal, and nuclear power.
- Renewable energy: Energy sources that naturally replenish themselves, such as solar, wind, or hydropower.
- Fracking: Hydraulic fracturing is a process of pumping water, sand, and chemicals deep underground at very high pressures to crack rocks and release natural gas and oil.
- Paris Climate Agreement: An international treaty signed in 2016 by 196 countries that establishes a framework to keep global surface temperatures from rising more than 1.5ºC above pre-industrial levels.
Candidate Stances
Vice President Harris believes the climate crisis is “one of the most urgent matters of our time.” As a Senator, Harris co-sponsored the Green New Deal, a progressive resolution to transition America out of fossil fuels and into clean energy within a decade. In 2019, she said she favored banning fracking but reversed that position in 2024. Harris touts the Biden-Harris admin’s Inflation Reduction Act as “the largest climate investment in our nation’s history.”
Former President Trump has repeatedly referred to climate change as a “hoax.” While in office, he rolled back hundreds of environmental protections and withdrew the U.S. from the Paris Climate Agreement because it was financially “unfair” to Americans. The U.S. became a net energy exporter while he was president, and he says he’s committed to further “unleashing American energy sources like coal, oil, and gas to ensure affordability for families and security in the world.”
Eternal Perspectives
Though we may not all agree on the best way to balance the health of the earth and the needs of humanity, we can pray for wisdom as we seek to be thoughtful stewards of God’s good creation.
“Then the Lord God formed the man out of the dust from the ground and breathed the breath of life into his nostrils, and the man became a living being.… [He] took the man and placed him in the garden of Eden to work it and watch over it.”
Genesis 2:7, 15 (CSB)
This is part of our Election Collection articles series, created to help Christians grow in understanding and compassion on key issues surrounding the 2024 presidential election.
Statistics taken from a Pew Research study conducted in May-June 2023.
Last Updated: August 27, 2024
