Sustainability: Is Either Candidate Pushing For Enough?
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As of November 1, over 90 million Americans have already voted, but millions more are waiting for November 3. Understanding where the Democratic and Republican candidates stand has not been a difficult task for most voters. For the most part, both former Vice President Joe Biden and President Donald Trump's platforms have clear messages surrounding unemployment, taxes, and the continuing effect of the pandemic.
Climate change and sustainability issues encompass all three of those problems and more. We are only thirty years away from the well-known carbon-neutral deadline looming. Whoever takes office this January will have the crucial job of steering America in the right, sustainable direction so we can do our part in protecting the planet.
So, where do the candidates stand on climate change?
For over three decades, Biden has been a strong advocate of the U.S. combating climate change and moving towards more sustainable sources of energy. According to his website, the former Vice President plans to invest two trillion dollars into a "clean energy economy". This concept has multiple components, the main points including the reform of the job market to include more sustainability-focused jobs and investment in the innovation of clean energy technology.
Despite Biden’s climate-focused past, even with Biden’s climate-focused track record and his $2 trillion plan for sustainability, his platform does not ban the use of fracking. Fracking requires several tons of water, and it is possible for carcinogenic chemicals to contaminate nearby groundwater. Its use has been incredibly controversial in the United States for many years, and the Biden campaign’s refusal to acknowledge the harm it does to the environment is concerning.
As for Trump’s policy, many environmentalists are concerned about what a consecutive victory would mean given his reluctance to regard climate change as a serious threat. Towards the beginning of his term, President Trump removed the United States from the Paris Agreement, reversed EPA decisions, and has consistently doubted scientists and the need for sustainable development. His platform has also not put out a plan for climate change and instead has opened up a 19 million-acre Arctic Refuge for drilling.
For the first time in its history, Scientific American endorsed a presidential candidate: Joe Biden. The group explained they made this move not because they wanted to, but because they felt it was a necessity for the sake of the environment. They believe Trump has done significant damage to both the environment and climate change progress during his term, and that a second Trump victory could prove catastrophic.
Even though the Biden campaign falls short on fracking, the platform does have an otherwise strong, actionable plan and its implementation would be instrumental for the environment and a sustainable future. For anyone who is concerned or cares about the environment, it is clear that one platform hopes to put out the fires in America while the other is frighteningly nonchalant with no plan in sight.