Former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris are both focusing on climate change as they campaign for the 2024 presidential race. While Harris has described climate change as a “crisis,” Trump has denied its existence and promoted climate science misinformation, including claims previously debunked. Trump’s past climate actions during his first term included withdrawing from the Paris Agreement and weakening domestic rules on greenhouse gas emissions, which contributed to an increase in emissions. Harris, on the other hand, has supported legislation combatting climate change but also spoken positively about expanding fossil fuel leasing and oil production.
A review by USA TODAY of climate-related comments made by both candidates found that Harris has not promoted any climate science misinformation and typically speaks in general terms about the topic. However, Trump’s statements have often contradicted evidence from scientists, such as claiming climate change is a hoax, attributing temperature fluctuations to natural variation, and questioning rises in global sea levels. Scientists have consistently shown that Earth’s climate is changing due to human behavior, causing long-term warming trends detected in both the atmosphere and the ocean. The speed at which humans are altering the climate is unprecedented and poses significant threats to the planet. Trump’s claims that scientific consensus in the past supported global cooling are also false, as research has consistently pointed to the warming effects of human greenhouse gas emissions. The review highlights the disconnect between Trump’s climate denialism and the scientific evidence supporting the reality of climate change.
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