Brian Barton
Climate change and environmental issues are important topics in American politics, with many candidates expressing concern about global climate change and proposing various policies to address it. While there is no candidate who explicitly supports pollution, some candidates have been perceived as prioritizing economic interests over environmental protection. For example, in the 2024 presidential election, Donald Trump's supporters were more focused on energy issues, including increasing domestic oil and gas production, while his opponent, Kamala Harris, emphasized environmental topics such as climate change, air and water quality, and renewable energy. Trump has also taken steps to roll back regulations on carbon emissions and fuel efficiency standards. Other candidates, such as Tulsi Gabbard, Bernie Sanders, and Elizabeth Warren, have proposed plans to tackle climate change by ending fossil fuel subsidies, investing in renewable energy, and supporting the Green New Deal. Overall, there is a growing bipartisan support for addressing climate change and reducing its impacts, with Americans favoring policies such as planting trees, providing tax credits for carbon capture technology, and tougher restrictions on emissions.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Support for fossil fuels | Bennet has been supportive of fossil fuel development, especially natural gas. |
| Support for Keystone and Jordan Cove pipeline | Bennet |
| Opposition to Green New Deal | Hickenlooper |
| Support for carbon tax | Hickenlooper |
| Support for ban on fracking | Tulsi Gabbard |
| Support for ending subsidies to big fossil fuel corporations | Tulsi Gabbard |
| Support for ban on offshore drilling | Tulsi Gabbard |
| Support for renewable energy | Tulsi Gabbard |
| Support for Green New Deal | Elizabeth Warren |
| Support for Green Apollo plan | Elizabeth Warren |
| Support for reducing emissions | O'Rourke |
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What You'll Learn
- Tulsi Gabbard's campaign promises to tackle climate change by ending fossil fuel subsidies
- Elizabeth Warren supports the Green New Deal and plans to invest $400 billion in clean energy R&D
- Bennet has been supportive of fossil fuel development, especially natural gas
- Hickenlooper dismisses the Green New Deal, instead endorsing a carbon tax
- O'Rourke's climate platform includes a $5 trillion plan
Tulsi Gabbard's campaign promises to tackle climate change by ending fossil fuel subsidies
Tulsi Gabbard, an Iraq war veteran, introduced the Off Fossil Fuels for a Better Future Act, or OFF Act, in Congress in 2017. This legislation aimed to promote a “just transition” from fossil fuels to cleaner energy sources. Gabbard's campaign promises to tackle climate change by ending fossil fuel subsidies and addressing the disproportionate impact of fossil fuel production on communities of colour.
The OFF Act proposes requiring 100% of electricity sold in the US to come from clean energy sources by 2035. It also includes plans to modernise electricity grids to help states set renewable energy standards. Additionally, the act calls for ending fossil fuel subsidies and extending tax credits for wind and solar production and investment. Gabbard has also signed the No Fossil Fuel Funding pledge, demonstrating her commitment to ending fossil fuel subsidies.
Gabbard believes that the US should lead by example in addressing climate change. She supports investing in clean energy, creating renewable energy jobs, enhancing US energy independence, and lowering energy costs for families and businesses while reducing carbon emissions. She also emphasises the importance of investing in sustainable infrastructure and agriculture, recognising that agriculture is a significant contributor to carbon emissions.
Gabbard's campaign website states, "As president, I'll tackle climate change by ending subsidies to big fossil fuel and agribusiness corporations, ban offshore drilling, harness innovation to create jobs in renewable energy, provide better opportunities for our farmers, and ensure every American has clean air and water." The website also mentions investing in 100% renewable and safe energy sources like wind, solar, and geothermal power.
Gabbard's plan includes specific goals for reducing emissions. By 2027, electric utilities would be required to use 80% renewable resources, increasing to 100% by 2035. Similarly, the plan mandates zero emissions for car emissions by 2050. Gabbard also intends to save American families money by weatherising homes, lowering energy bills, and providing grants and trade-in programs for energy-efficient vehicles.
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Elizabeth Warren supports the Green New Deal and plans to invest $400 billion in clean energy R&D
Elizabeth Warren is a strong supporter of the Green New Deal, which aims to achieve net-zero domestic greenhouse gas emissions as soon as possible. To that end, she has proposed a Green Apollo Program, or a Green Manufacturing Plan, which would see a $400 billion federal commitment over ten years to clean energy research and development. This is a substantial increase from the amount invested in clean energy research and development in the previous decade.
The funding would be used to establish a new system of institutes dedicated to the research and development of advanced clean energy technologies at the Department of Energy. This would be modelled after the National Institutes of Health, which has been successful in making breakthrough discoveries and providing incredible returns for the economy and taxpayers.
Warren believes that the United States should lead the way in developing and deploying green technology to combat the climate crisis. She plans to use the federal procurement process to create demand for the resulting technology, committing $1.5 trillion over ten years to purchase American-made clean, renewable, and emission-free energy products for federal, state, and local use. This would create immediate demand, spur innovation, and investment in the American clean energy sector.
In addition to her plans for clean energy research and development, Warren has also proposed other initiatives to tackle the climate crisis. This includes expanding tax credits for the use of wind and solar power, as well as including energy and pollution standards in federal contracts for construction projects. She has also introduced legislation such as the BUY GREEN Act, the BUILD GREEN Infrastructure and Jobs Act, and the Climate Risk Disclosure Act, all aimed at reducing environmental risks and transitioning to a clean energy economy.
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Bennet has been supportive of fossil fuel development, especially natural gas
Michael Bennet, a Senator from Colorado, has been supportive of fossil fuel development, notably natural gas. Bennet has a history of supporting the fossil fuel industry, including pipeline and export projects. For instance, Bennet has expressed support for the Keystone XL pipeline and the Jordan Cove pipeline and natural gas export terminal project in Oregon. Bennet's stance on fossil fuel development, particularly natural gas, has been a topic of discussion during his time in the Senate and his 2020 presidential campaign.
Bennet has defended his support for the natural gas industry by highlighting its role in displacing coal and reducing emissions. In 2019, Bennet rebuked anti-fossil fuel activists calling for an immediate ban on natural gas production, arguing that such a ban would lead to increased emissions. He cited the example of Colorado, which has successfully balanced energy production and environmental protection. Bennet introduced legislation in 2015 to expedite the approval of LNG exports, highlighting Colorado's record of safe natural gas production and environmental stewardship.
Bennet's support for fossil fuel development, especially natural gas, has been a point of contention with more progressive climate activists. Bennet's platform addresses emissions control and protections for public lands, but his ambivalent record on fossil fuels has been noted. Bennet has not aggressively challenged the fossil fuel industry's drilling, pipeline, and export priorities, and he has sidestepped certain climate action issues, such as carbon pricing.
Bennet's position on natural gas aligns with other Colorado Democrats, such as former Governor John Hickenlooper, who highlighted the state's success in natural gas production while balancing the energy needs and costs of its citizens. Bennet's support for fossil fuel development, particularly natural gas, is part of his approach to balancing environmental protection with energy production in his home state of Colorado. Bennet has emphasized the need to work across the political aisle and address the impacts of climate change, while also considering the energy landscape in his state.
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Hickenlooper dismisses the Green New Deal, instead endorsing a carbon tax
Former Colorado Governor and presidential candidate John Hickenlooper has been vocal about his opposition to the Green New Deal, a resolution introduced by Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Senator Ed Markey. Hickenlooper argues that the Green New Deal sets "unachievable goals", specifically targeting its proposal to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions within 10 years, which he believes is not technologically feasible. He also criticizes the resolution for "shunning the private sector", advocating instead for collaboration with industry and research institutions to address climate change.
Hickenlooper's stance on the Green New Deal has raised questions about his understanding of the resolution, with some suggesting that he may not have read it thoroughly. Despite his criticisms, Hickenlooper has expressed agreement with certain aspects of the Green New Deal, such as the need to address climate change and reduce carbon emissions. However, his record on energy and the environment during his tenure as governor has been called into question. Hickenlooper threatened to sue towns that attempted to ban fracking and oversaw a significant increase in oil production across Colorado.
Instead of the Green New Deal, Hickenlooper endorses a carbon tax as a more realistic approach to combating climate change. He believes that working closely with industry and utilizing the resources and innovation of society as a whole is crucial. Hickenlooper's plan includes weatherizing homes to lower energy bills, building modern public transportation, providing grants for electric vehicles, and investing in sustainable agriculture. He emphasizes "getting things done", highlighting Colorado's progress under his governorship in job growth, healthcare provision, and gun control.
Hickenlooper's dismissal of the Green New Deal and endorsement of a carbon tax reflect his pragmatic approach to addressing environmental issues. While he acknowledges the urgency of climate change, he favors achievable goals and collaboration with the private sector over the more ambitious and politically divisive Green New Deal. Hickenlooper's position aligns him with Republicans and some Democrats who voted against the resolution. However, as the climate crisis gains urgency in Democratic politics, his stance may become a liability in the 2020 primary, with youth climate activists already pressuring him to reject contributions from the fossil fuel industry.
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O'Rourke's climate platform includes a $5 trillion plan
Beto O'Rourke, the former Texas congressman, laid out a $5 trillion plan to combat climate change, which he refers to as the "greatest threat" facing the nation. O'Rourke's plan includes a series of executive actions that would reverse the "energy dominance" policies of former President Donald Trump, who rolled back environmental regulations to increase domestic fossil fuel production.
O'Rourke's four-pillar framework combines proposed executive action with legislation he pledges to introduce within his first 100 days in office. The plan includes spending $5 trillion over 10 years to improve aging infrastructure nationwide and take significant actions to defend communities preparing for intensified floods, droughts, hurricanes, fires, and other natural disasters fueled by a changing climate. O'Rourke's plan calls for increasing taxes on corporations and the wealthiest individuals, ending tax breaks for fossil fuel companies, and offering federal grants to encourage innovative improvements in housing and transportation.
O'Rourke's measures align with some of the principles of the Green New Deal, a set of policy goals introduced by congressional Democrats that would transform the U.S. energy economy to 100% renewable sources by 2030, using federal funds to invest in modern infrastructure and green job programs. O'Rourke's plan, however, fell short of the Sunrise Movement's expectations, a youth-led group that has pushed the Green New Deal. They stated that O'Rourke's plan did not align with the timeline and scale of action that scientists say is necessary to address climate change.
O'Rourke's climate plan was one of the most detailed among the crowded field of Democratic presidential candidates in 2020, which included candidates such as Bernie Sanders, Kamala Harris, and Elizabeth Warren, who have embraced the Green New Deal. O'Rourke's focus on climate change and his do-it-yourself campaign style gave him credibility with supporters in Texas and beyond. However, he faced criticism for lacking specifics in his policies and saw a decrease in the initial buzz surrounding his campaign.
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Frequently asked questions
Donald Trump.
Donald Trump.
Donald Trump.
Tulsi Gabbard.
Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, and Joe Biden.
