Climate Takes the Spotlight: Key Questions for Trump and Harris

As the upcoming debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump approaches, climate change, often overlooked in political forums, poses critical challenges for the next U.S. president. Inside Climate News staff prepared 10 tough climate questions that directly address these urgent choices, confronting the candidates with both their past policies and the nation's growing role in global energy production.

Questions for Trump

1. Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) Projects:
   Over 300 clean energy and electric vehicle projects, worth $125 billion and creating over 100,000 jobs, have been announced since the passage of the IRA. You've said you'd end IRA subsidies. What would you do about the projects at risk, especially in states like Texas and Georgia?

2. Energy Independence Claims:
   You credit yourself for achieving U.S. energy independence, but under Biden, energy imports are even lower, and exports higher. Would you lift the Russian oil import ban that was enacted after your term?

3. Wind Energy Criticism:
   You’ve opposed wind energy for its environmental and wildlife impacts. With Texas leading wind power, providing 10% of U.S. electricity, do you plan to shut down wind farms, or what's your alternative?

4. Rising Sea Levels and Property Risks:
   Rising seas have caused significant flooding and damage, especially in Florida. Should the government continue insuring high-risk properties, or what alternatives would you offer for homeowners who can't get private flood insurance?

5. Coal Jobs:
   Despite your promise to revive coal, U.S. coal jobs dropped by 25% during your presidency. What’s your plan to help coal workers in the face of renewable energy growth?

Questions for Harris

1. Fossil Fuel Accountability:
   As California’s attorney general, you supported litigation against oil companies. Should the Department of Justice pursue legal action against fossil fuel companies for climate damages, similar to the tobacco litigation?

2. Paris Climate Agreement Targets:
   The U.S. is not on track to meet its Paris Agreement targets for greenhouse gas reductions. What steps would you take to close the gap and restore U.S. credibility in global climate efforts?

3. Fracking and Public Health:
   Fracking has been linked to significant public health risks. How would you protect communities exposed to air and water contamination from fracking, and what’s your position on its future?

4. Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Permits:
   Do you support the Biden administration’s pause on new LNG export permits, and if a federal judge's ruling to resume permitting stands, would you move forward with new projects?

5. Farmworker Safety and Climate Heat:
   Will you support legal status for undocumented farmworkers and enforce federal heat protection standards, as climate change exacerbates extreme heat risks for outdoor laborers?

These questions highlight the stark differences in the candidates' climate policies, pushing them to clarify their plans for a future shaped by clean energy development and the escalating costs of climate disasters.