Introduction:
As the 2024 US Presidential Election approaches, the environment and climate are once again at the forefront of voters’ minds. The world is facing an urgent climate crisis, and it’s more important than ever to elect a leader who will take bold action to protect the planet. In this article, we’ll examine the environmental records of the two leading candidates – Joe Biden and Donald Trump – and evaluate which candidate is better for the environment and climate.
Biden’s Environmental Record:
Joe Biden has a long history of advocating for environmental protection. As Vice President, he played a key role in the Obama administration’s efforts to address climate change. During his 2020 campaign, Biden pledged to prioritize climate action, and he has followed through on that promise as President. Here are some of the key actions that Biden has taken to protect the environment:
Rejoining the Paris Agreement:
One of Biden’s first actions as President was to rejoin the Paris Agreement, an international treaty aimed at limiting global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius. Trump withdrew the US from the agreement in 2017.
Investing in Clean Energy:
Biden has proposed a $2 trillion plan to invest in clean energy and infrastructure, which would create millions of jobs while reducing carbon emissions.
Regulating Methane Emissions:
Biden has proposed new regulations to limit methane emissions from oil and gas operations, which are a major contributor to global warming.
Protecting Public Lands and Waters:
Biden has taken steps to protect public lands and waters, including reinstating protections for the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and halting new oil and gas leases on federal lands.
Trump’s Environmental Record:
Donald Trump’s environmental record has been widely criticized by environmentalists and scientists. During his presidency, he rolled back numerous environmental regulations and withdrew the US from the Paris Agreement. Here are some of the key actions that Trump took that have had an impact on the environment:
Rolling Back Environmental Regulations:
Trump’s administration rolled back numerous environmental regulations, including rules designed to limit carbon emissions from power plants and vehicles.
Opening Public Lands to Drilling:
Trump opened up vast areas of public lands to oil and gas drilling, including parts of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
Promoting Fossil Fuels:
Trump promoted the use of fossil fuels, including coal, oil, and gas, and sought to revive the struggling coal industry.
Denying Climate Change:
Trump repeatedly denied the reality of climate change, calling it a “hoax” and refusing to take action to address it.
Conclusion:
When it comes to the environment and climate, Joe Biden and Donald Trump have vastly different records. Biden has a long history of advocating for environmental protection and has taken numerous actions as President to address climate change. Trump, on the other hand, rolled back environmental regulations and promoted the use of fossil fuels while denying the reality of climate change. Based on these records, it’s clear that Biden is the better candidate for the environment and climate in the 2024 US Presidential Election.
FAQs
FAQs Section:
- What is the US Executive Order on Climate Risk?
The Executive Order requires the National Climate Advisor and the Director of the National Economic Council to develop a comprehensive government-wide climate-risk strategy within 120 days. - What is the Executive Order on carbon emissions?
President Biden signed an executive order to make the federal government carbon-neutral by 2050, aiming for a 65% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and an all-electric fleet of cars and trucks by 2035. - Does Biden have a climate plan?
Biden’s plan is to ensure the US achieves a 100% clean energy economy and reaches net-zero emissions no later than 2050. - What is Executive Order Biden?
The Executive Order directs agencies to consider measures to address and prevent disproportionate and adverse environmental and health impacts on communities, including the cumulative impacts of pollution and other burdens like climate change. - What is the current US climate policy?
The current policy aims to reduce US greenhouse gas emissions by 50-52% below 2005 levels by 2030, reach 100% carbon pollution-free electricity by 2035, achieve a net-zero emissions economy by 2050, and deliver 40% of benefits from federal investments in climate and clean energy to disadvantaged communities. - What EO replaced 13834?
EO 14057 was signed by President Biden on December 8, 2021, and revoked EO 13834. This EO affirms that it is the policy of the United States to achieve a carbon pollution-free electricity sector by 2035 and net-zero emissions economy-wide by no later than 2050. - What is EPA GHG?
The EPA Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program tracks facility-level emissions from the largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States. - When did Biden commit to net zero?
Biden signed an executive order on December 8, 2021, directing the federal government to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. - Who has the highest carbon emissions?
China is the largest emitter of carbon dioxide gas in the world, followed by the US, India, Russia, and Japan. - What is the US government doing to reduce carbon emissions?
The US government’s Carbon Reduction Program funds projects aiming to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from on-road highway sources. - What is the US government’s carbon footprint?
In 2021, US greenhouse gas emissions totaled 5,586.0 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalents after accounting for sequestration from the land sector. - What is the US promise on climate change?
America’s Pledge brings together private and public sector leaders to ensure the US remains a global leader in reducing emissions and delivers the country’s ambitious climate goals of the Paris Agreement. - Where in the US is most protected from climate change?
Maine, Wyoming, California, Florida, Utah, South Carolina, and Texas are considered the best states for climate change protection. - What state in America has declared a climate emergency?
Hawaii became the first US state to declare a climate emergency on April 29, 2021. - When were carbon emissions the highest?
Emissions rose to more than 35 billion tons per year by the end of the 20th century. - What did Biden say about climate?
Biden called on everyone to act boldly on climate change and clean energy, saying it’s a duty to our economy, competitiveness, young people, and future generations. - What did Biden promise for climate change?
Biden pledged to cut greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2030 and said that action on climate change and clean energy remains more urgent than ever. - What should Biden do for climate change?
Biden should declare a climate emergency, ban fracking on public lands, stop dirty infrastructure projects, regulate dangerous rail cargo, save the food system from mega-mergers, and protect families from factory farm pollution. - Why is it called Executive Order?
Executive Orders are issued by the White House to direct the Executive Branch of the US Government, and they state mandatory requirements for the Executive Branch and have the effect of law. - How important is the Executive Order?
Recent Presidents have used Executive Orders broadly to carry out policies and programs, although they historically related to routine administrative matters and the internal operations of federal agencies. - Is the US reducing emissions?
In 2020, US greenhouse gas emissions totaled 5,981 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalents, representing a 7% decrease since 1990 and a 20% decrease since 2005. - What is GWP vs GHG?
The Global Warming Potential (GWP) of a greenhouse gas indicates the amount of warming a gas causes over a given period, with CO2 having an index value of 1, and the GWP for all other greenhouse gases is the number of times more warming they cause compared to CO2. - Is GHG the same as CO2?
GHG emissions are often measured in carbon dioxide (CO2) equivalent, and to convert emissions of a gas into CO2 equivalent, its emissions are multiplied by the gas’s Global Warming Potential (GWP). - Why have US carbon emissions declined?
Coal generation in the US fell in 2022, returning to the downward trend that had been in place until last year’s modest increase, and natural gas and renewables have displaced coal generation. - Is climate change a threat to the US?
Climate change poses threats to national security, as effects like rising sea levels and catastrophic storms threaten both military and civilian infrastructure and can even affect migration patterns. - How much does the US donate to climate change?
The US spends marginally higher, at US$534 million, or 2%, of total allocable bilateral ODA spending on projects with climate change mitigation or adaptation as a significant goal.
