US presidential debate: Harris seemed from Earth and Trump from Alpha Centauri

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Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. If I had to grade the debate between US Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump from a climate perspective, I would give it a C, and that’s being generous. One candidate mainly looked backward and talked a little too favourably about fossil fuels.

The other said solar panels take up too much space and something about the mayor of Moscow’s wife. But both-sides-ing this debate would be misleading. As frustrating as it may have been for the climate-minded— which includes most Americans—it was clear from the debate that only one side truly takes the issue seriously.

Harris reminded viewers that, while Trump has called climate change a hoax, she believes that it is real, that it is a problem and that there are solutions. She mentioned some of the effects of the Inflation Reduction Act, the biggest climate bill in history, including a surge in clean-energy investment and manufacturing jobs. Unfortunately, she also noted the Biden administration had “increased domestic gas production to historic levels." Harris also vowed not to ban hydraulic fracking for fossil fuels, insisting her 2019-vintage opposition to the practice is long gone.

In fact, the only time she mentioned the IRA by name was to point out that it “opens new leases for fracking." Sigh! This approach to climate could be risky. As Harris noted, young people in overwhelming numbers say they care about this issue, and she will need their enthusiasm to help carry her to the White House. On the other hand, thanks to the Electoral College, presidents in this country are chosen by a few busloads of swing voters in states like Pennsylvania, the second-biggest natural-gas producer in the US.