In terms of environmental policy, the gap is yawning between Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Kamala Harris, even if the subject has very rarely been mentioned in this race for the White House. However, an election of Trump as president of the United States would result in disastrous consequences for the climate. For what ?
4 billion tonnes more greenhouse gases?
Let’s remember the United States’ goal by 2030: reduce the country’s greenhouse gas emissions by 50 to 52% compared to 2005. A deadline set by President Joe Biden in 2021 when he takes office, to once again align the United States with the Paris Agreement, aiming to limit global warming to 1.5°C. An Agreement from which Trump left during his first term.
From this objective, the Carbon Brief site considered two scenarioseach estimating the evolution of the country’s polluting emissions according to the climate policies implemented. In case ofelection of Trumpannual greenhouse gas emissions in the United States would be greater than a billion tonnes of carbon equivalent compared to a Harris mandate, or 4 billion in 4 years!
The country’s climate trajectory would clearly go off the rails in the event of a Trump victory, destroying the efforts made by Biden since 2021. The Republican also plans to cancel all of the environmental measures put in place by Biden : the $420 billion climate plan, the Inflation Reduction Act or perhaps certain subsidies for the purchase of an electric vehicle.
The comeback of fossil fuels
Without knowing whether Trump can really unravel Biden’s entire environmental program, the Carbon Brief site explains that the climate consequences of a new Trump mandate may still be underestimatedgiven the Republican’s commitment to supporting the development of fossil fuels, including the extraction and combustion of oil.
During the Republican primary, Trump also declared: “We’re going to drill, baby, drill”… A clear announcement, which would increase carbon emissions in the United States. However, the country being the second largest emitter in the world after China, a new term for Trump would undoubtedly mark the end of the hope of keeping global warming below 1.5°C.
Trump considers climate change one of the biggest scams of our timediscusses rising sea levels as an opportunity for Americans to own seaside property, and believes that the oil contained in the American subsoil will allow the country to enrich itself. Without obviously talking about a new withdrawal from the Paris Agreement…
The election of Harris would not, however, be a panacea! She also did not say much about the environment, pollution and biodiversity. It will need to obtain a Democratic majority in the Assemblies to pursue an ambitious climate policy. Carbon Brief estimates thata Harris mandate would reduce carbon emissions by 43% by 2030far from the objective of 50%…
Article references:
US presidential election: a victory for Donald Trump would put an end to the hope of limiting global warming to 1.5°C – Liberation
Analysis : Trump election win could add 4bn tonnes to US emissions by 2030 – Carbon Brief
American presidential election: the environment, largely absent from the campaign – France Info
