Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump have differing views on addressing climate change and ensuring a reliable energy supply. Harris supports policies like the Green New Deal and the Inflation Reduction Act, which aim to transition the US to green energy. On the other hand, Trump favors boosting fossil fuel production and dismantling climate regulations. Environmental groups back Harris as a “proven climate champion,” while Republicans criticize Democratic climate policies as burdensome to American energy.
Harris has evolved her stance on fracking and offshore drilling, now supporting fracking while opposing a ban on offshore drilling. She aims to balance the interests of climate voters and industry supporters. Trump, on the other hand, wants to increase oil drilling, offer tax breaks to oil producers, and speed up pipeline approvals. When it comes to electric vehicles, Trump criticizes Biden’s emissions rules and questions the impact of EV manufacturing on jobs. Harris has not announced a detailed EV plan but has shown support for clean energy initiatives, like federal grants for clean school buses.
Harris has focused on implementing bipartisan infrastructure and climate laws to create jobs in the energy sector. Under Biden and Harris, the US has seen over 250,000 energy jobs created, with clean energy accounting for more than half. Trump and his allies criticize climate spending as harmful to American jobs and domestic energy prices. Trump withdrew the US from the Paris Climate Agreement and promises to do so again, citing concerns about China and enforcement issues. Harris, in contrast, sees the Paris Agreement as essential for protecting future generations.
The Biden administration paused new natural gas export terminals to review their economic and climate impacts, aligning with environmentalists’ concerns about methane emissions. Trump has pledged to approve new terminals upon reentering office. Harris has not outlined specific plans for LNG exports, but analysts expect her to impose stringent climate standards on such projects. The two candidates’ contrasting approaches to climate change and energy policies reflect broader divisions between Democrats and Republicans on environmental issues. Trust in Harris on climate change appears higher among US adults compared to Trump, according to a recent poll.
