Amid a summer of record-breaking heat, Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump offer starkly different visions for tackling climate change while maintaining a stable energy supply. Both have voiced their priorities, but neither has provided clear roadmaps.
Harris, during her Democratic National Convention speech, briefly touched on the importance of clean air and water in addressing the climate crisis. As vice president, she played a key role in passing the Inflation Reduction Act, Biden’s significant climate initiative, and has supported progressive environmental policies like the Green New Deal.
Environmental advocates view Harris as a strong climate ally, committed to combating pollution and holding the oil industry accountable. Groups like Evergreen Action praise her for advancing Biden’s policies, which focus on expanding electric vehicles and reducing emissions from coal plants.
On the other hand, Republicans argue that Biden and Harris’s environmental regulations harm American energy production and raise costs for consumers. They criticize their administration for imposing policies that, they claim, stifle economic growth in the energy sector.
Donald Trump
On energy production, Harris has adjusted her stance over time. Although she initially opposed fracking and offshore drilling during her 2020 presidential campaign, she has since clarified that she does not plan to ban fracking, recognizing its importance in key swing states like Pennsylvania.
Trump, in contrast, has maintained a pro-fossil fuel stance, advocating for increased oil and gas production. He vows to roll back environmental regulations to promote cheaper energy prices and economic growth.
The debate around electric vehicles (EVs) also highlights their differences. Trump has repeatedly criticized Biden’s emissions policies, portraying them as a forced transition to EVs that could harm auto industry jobs.
Although Trump’s stance has softened recently after receiving support from Tesla CEO Elon Musk, he still opposes most of Biden’s EV incentives. Harris, on the other hand, has strongly endorsed EVs, focusing on federal grants to promote cleaner transportation, including electrifying school buses.
Harris’s approach to climate change focuses on leveraging Biden’s climate laws to create jobs, particularly in clean energy sectors. She has pointed to the creation of 250,000 energy jobs last year, arguing that America is more energy secure under Biden’s administration.
Trump, however, dismisses this progress, claiming that Biden’s climate spending benefits other countries and increases energy costs domestically. He views the climate law as a “money grab” for environmental groups.
Finally, Trump has pledged to withdraw the U.S. from the Paris Climate Agreement again and end environmental regulations that he believes hurt the economy. He also plans to expand liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports and reduce restrictions on oil and gas production.
Harris, by contrast, supports the Paris Agreement and is expected to impose stricter climate standards on LNG projects, reflecting her broader commitment to reducing emissions and addressing climate change at a global level.
