“In many ways, I believe the fate of our planet depends on American voters. » By this phrase she recognizes that she “may seem hyperbolic”Ariel Moger, Director of Political Affairs for Friends of the Earth in the United States, reflects the concern of many climate observers a few days before the US presidential elections, which will take place on November 5.
As the window closes to hope to limit global warming to +1.5°C, the action of the United States, the largest oil producer, the second largest emitter of greenhouse gases in the world and the largest historical polluter, will weigh heavily in the balance. The vote in favor of Kamala Harris or Donald Trump will affect not only American climate policy, but also the global fight against global warming, since everything is opposed to the two candidates on this issue.
The former American president does not hide his absolute rejection of ecology. For years, he has been making climate-skeptical statements, calling global warming a ” joke ” either “concept invented by the Chinese to prevent American industry from being competitive”. During his term (2017-2021), he repealed more than 100 environmental regulations resulting from the presidency of his predecessor, Barack Obama, and withdrew his country from the Paris climate agreement. The United States restored it in 2021, after the inauguration of Joe Biden.
The energy transition is underway
This time, the Republican wants to go further. If elected, he plans to review the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), passed under President Joe Biden. This massive program to support the energy transition constitutes the largest climate bill ever passed in US history. The candidate wants “to finish” to this “new green scam”as he himself describes it, and more specifically to subsidies for the production of renewable energy and electric cars, although Elon Musk, the head of Tesla, is one of its most fervent supporters. On the other hand, the leitmotif of Donald Trump, supported by the oil companies, is “Drill, drill baby!” » (“Drill, baby, drill!”), and intends to massively reactivate oil and gas production – “liquid gold under our feet” –without stopping burning coal, the most polluting of fossil fuels.
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