The moderator of the first debate, Lester Holt, was reportedly set to ask a climate change question but ran out of time.
Even though developing countries have often faced natural disasters due to climate change, this year the US has experienced multiple events that lead the most doubtful person about the issue to consider this more seriously. Hurricane Matthew, which resulted in more than 20 deaths, is just the latest example of the type of extreme event, from flooding in Louisiana to a historic drought in California, that will become more common as the world warms. 2016 is on track to be the warmest on record, beating a mark set just in 2015. The Paris climate accord has been ratified by countries around the world while the Obama administration has attempted to implement its Clean Power Plan in the teeth of fierce opposition from 27 states. Alaska barely had a winter this year while some American communities are already having to relocate due to rising seas.
Climate change is real and is backed by science, and while the candidates have opposing ideas about certain issues such as police brutality, the economy, and immigration, it is hard to have a debate on a topic that one candidate doesn't think is real.
Republican Donald Trump has denied climate change exists and would withdraw the US from the Paris agreement on global warming. He wants to scrap the EPA’s Clean Power Plan, which tries to limit carbon emissions by power plants and increase the use of renewable energy. He plans to end a moratorium on coal leasing, while also stopping oil imports from Opec countries. However, he supports exploring renewable energy sources.
Democrat Hillary Clinton has praised the Paris agreement and wants to cut energy waste and methane emissions, reduce oil consumption and invest in clean energy. She wants to create a $60bn Clean Energy Challenge that gives incentives to states to fight carbon pollution. She has announced benefits for coal miners such as health and retirement security. She opposes Arctic drilling and the Keystone XL pipeline, and supports fracking under strict conditions.
Democrat Hillary Clinton has praised the Paris agreement and wants to cut energy waste and methane emissions, reduce oil consumption and invest in clean energy. She wants to create a $60bn Clean Energy Challenge that gives incentives to states to fight carbon pollution. She has announced benefits for coal miners such as health and retirement security. She opposes Arctic drilling and the Keystone XL pipeline, and supports fracking under strict conditions.
Hopefully the third debate will be different. You can access the article here
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