“In many ways, I think the fate of our planet depends on American voters. » By this sentence which she recognizes that she “may seem hyperbolic”Ariel Moger, director of political affairs for Friends of the Earth in the United States, reflects the concern of many climate observers a few days before the American presidential election, which will take place on November 5.
While the window to hope to limit global warming to +1.5°C is closing, the action of the United States, the leading oil producer, the world's second largest emitter of greenhouse gases and the largest historical polluter , will weigh heavily in the balance. The vote in favor of Kamala Harris or Donald Trump will affect not only American climate policy, but also the global fight against global warming as everything opposes the two candidates on this subject.
The former American president makes no secret of his absolute rejection of ecology. For years, he has been making climate-sceptical statements, calling global warming a ” prank ” or from “concept invented by the Chinese to prevent American industry from being competitive”. During his mandate (2017-2021), he repealed more than 100 environmental standards resulting from the presidency of his predecessor, Barack Obama, and he brought his country out of the Paris climate agreement. The United States reinstated it in 2021, upon the inauguration of Joe Biden.
Energy transition well underway
This time, the Republican wants to go further. If elected, he plans to revisit the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), passed under the presidency of Joe Biden. This very large program to support the energy transition constitutes the largest climate law ever passed in the history of the United States. The candidate wants “to end” to this “new green scam”as he describes it, and more specifically to subsidies for the production of renewable energies and electric cars, even though Elon Musk, the boss of Tesla, is one of his most fervent supporters. Instead, the leitmotif of Donald Trump, supported by the oil companies, is « Drill, baby drill! » (“Drill, darling, drill!”), and he intends to massively revive gas and oil production – “liquid gold under our feet” –while continuing to burn coal, the most polluting of fossil fuels.
You have 67.97% of this article left to read. The rest is reserved for subscribers.
Related News :