Americans’ Attitude Toward Climate Change Takes a Dramatic Turn

If Republicans take the White House in November (and statistics show they very well could), it could mean the end of the US climate policy. 

Global What? 

To say that the climate emergency is causing chaos across the US would be an understatement. Runaway wildfires, fatal heatwaves, increasingly intense hurricanes, rising sea levels… 

But the Republican platform steers clear of the term ‘climate change.’

Underground Gold 

Instead, the Republicans’ platform states: “We will DRILL, BABY, DRILL and we will become Energy Independent, and even Dominant again. The United States has more liquid gold under our feet than any other Nation, and it’s not even close. The Republican Party will harness that potential to power our future.” 

But Wait… 

Meanwhile, the results of a recent Climate Insights survey of public opinion conducted by researchers at Stanford University and Resources for the Future (RFF) are, to put it mildly, worrisome. 

A Recent Poll 

1,000 American adults were interviewed for the survey, which was conducted by the firm ReconMR for RFF and Standford University. The latest data was collected between October 16, 2023, and February 23, 2024.

Stressful Statistics  

According to the survey, the amount of climate skeptics dropped by 6% since 2020. 

In addition, it states:

• 75% of Americans believe Earth has warmed up during the last century – a drop of 8% since 2020. 
• 21% consider climate change as crucial – no substantial change. 
• Americans who support solar power dropped by 8% during the past decade. 
• Support for wind-powered electricity is 14% less than 10 years ago. 
• 67% trust climate scientists – a decrease of 8% since 2020. 

Similar Results 

These descending statistics in the RFF/Stanford survey mirror the ones of a Pew Research Center survey showing a weakening in the “breadth of support for wind and solar power.” 

Opposing Sides 

As per the Pew poll, Republican support is 20% less for solar and 19% less for wind since Biden became President. 

The Associate Research Director of Pew, Alec Tyson, refers to this as a “significant change,” saying that: “It’s a new level of polarization on energy issues that we had not previously seen.”

A Risk to a Greener US?

Now, the Republican nominee for vice president, JD Vance, with his close ties to the fossil fuels industry and his criticism of electric vehicles (shared by presidential nominee Donald Trump), is seen as a threat to Americans and the planet, according to environmental advocates. 

Going Against It  

Before running for political office, Vance voiced concern about the climate crisis. 

Now, he’s voting to end environmental protections in addition to canceling landmark climate legislation supporting renewables and electric vehicles. 

One Step Back 

Cassidy DiPaola, spokesperson for Fossil Free Media’s Make Polluters Pay campaign, says: “The selection of JD Vance as a potential vice-president is a dangerous step backward for climate action in the United States.” 

What Crisis? 

DiPaola added: “Senator Vance’s record shows a clear pattern of prioritizing fossil fuel interests over the urgent need to address the climate crisis.”  

The Reds in Charge 

Should Republicans win the White House, flip the Senate, and maintain their House majority in November’s election, they will have various ways of shifting US climate policy. 

A Strong Possibility? 

This scenario has become more and more likely in recent weeks after certain events, including Biden’s catastrophic debate performance, and an attempted assassination on Trump which has revitalized his base. 

Feeling Positive 

Although this can’t be 100% assured yet, Republicans are optimistic about their chances.

On Tuesday, House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican, told The Washington Post that “there’s obviously going to be a big downballot effect” from recent events.

While this has unnerved certain leading liberal climate groups, it has fired up fresh support for Trump. 

No Threat? 

William Perry Pendley served as acting director of the Interior Department’s Bureau of Land Management during the Trump administration. According to him, “To say climate change is the biggest threat to humanity is absolutely insane.”

“The remedy that President Biden has is, ‘Let’s spend a ton of money solving a problem that doesn’t exist and turning over your lifestyles.’ That’s certainly not the position of the Republican Party.” 

2025’s Blueprint 

A possible playbook for the Republican party is Project 2025, a proposal for the next conservative administration.

While Trump has said he knows “nothing about Project 2025,” several of its authors were part of the Trump administration or could enjoy prominent positions if he wins a second term. 

Thumbs up From Trump 

Additionally, Trump has also praised the Heritage Foundation, the conservative think tank that organized Project 2025.  

Green Energy Is a Target 

Among Project 2025’s many controversial proposals is a recommendation to revoke Biden’s signature 2022 climate law, the Inflation Reduction Act. 

This law has already invested billions into pushing green technologies, including wind turbines and electric vehicles. The majority of the new investments are in red states and congressional districts.  

Who’s Got the Power? 

If Trump wants to fully repeal these green technologies’ tax credits, he would need Republican lawmakers to pass new legislation.  

However, he could also sidestep Congress and direct the Treasury Department to substantially restrict which companies could claim the credits.   

Unpredictable 

Predicting how these and other decisions could impact the level of carbon emissions in Earth’s atmosphere, the main driver of global warming, is tricky. 

It’s Not Great 

However, Carbon Brief, a United Kingdom-based climate policy and science publication, found that a second Trump administration could lead to an extra 4 billion metric tons of carbon emissions by 2030. 

This would be equal to the collective annual emissions of the European Union and Japan! 

A Frightening Forecast 

According to Simon Evans, deputy editor and senior policy editor at Carbon Brief, “A Republican sweep in November’s election would avoid congressional roadblocks to Trump rolling back all of Biden’s climate legacy.” 

“Under those conditions, Trump could push the U.S. towards the extra 4 billion tons of CO2 emissions by 2030 that we modeled — and potentially beyond.”

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