God willing, it will be on Nov 3^rd that Americans (natives as well as those settled there) would decide as to under whose presidency, they are willing to pursue the upcoming 4 years. Contest goes between Donald Trump from Republican corner and Joe Biden fielded by Democrats.

Now fixing our focus to the issue of climate change and other issues falling in the climate loop, such as global warming, greenhouse emissions, acid rain, fossil fuel (not Faisal fuel), blazing California wildfires etc. such issues are considered to have a deep bearing upon this election and won’t be spared from getting debated and countered eventually and accordingly.

However, from Republican party side, there is perceived a towering climate scepticism on part of their elegant candidate and current president, who has made a pull back from Paris Agreement in his tenure. Conversely, as is expected, the Democratic zealot has vowed steadfast favour to the agreement and has even launched a “clean energy revolution” with the set objective of net-zero emission in the coming 3 decades.

Democrats

As is obvious, where Biden has outlined a bevy of plans related to climate and energy, titled as “environmental justice” and which is targeted towards those cornered to make an earning in fossil fuels as well as for people under direct exposure of ghastly climate change.

In line with him, his vice president pick, Kamala Harris also created a favourable air in support of climate action and is an acknowledged crusader for Green New Deal.

Having said this, officially no declaration is made about Trump’s energy and climate policies save a bulleted items, in regard to second term agenda which also highlights deregulatory agenda for energy independence, followed by a pledge to uphold its objectives and to work in the direction.

One shouldn’t be amused that the topic is completely ignored by the sitting president and US oil-and-gas sector success has been dramatically publicized in recent months and the Democrats didn’t fall short of indicating certain loopholes therein.

Referring to Vice President Mike Pence, he too has a leaning towards climate scepticism and has hailed the administrative efforts in regard to fossil-fuel economy.

This is, however, bizarre that Republicans have not unveiled any new platform (referring to election manifesto) and have decided to adhere to the one of previous 2016 election, before Trump claimed the highest chair in White House. Obviously, there are listed lot many references to Barack Obama while recent year developments are managed an easy under-count.

Even though Trump has been primarily boisterous about energy sector and claims it to be an integral part under “war on red tape” campaign led by him, but political analysts and environmentalists raise concern over the absence of this industry in series of speeches in recent days.

As on September 30th, a presidential debate ensued, which was limited to self-acclaim and self-endorsements and nothing constructive and meaningful detail could be gathered post event.

Now, deeply intrigued by the pull-back from Paris Agreement, clearly troubled by nullifying environmental regulations of Obama administration and referencing to wildfires in California, Fox news media person Chris Wallace could not contain himself from questioning Trump about his stand on the climate change. He put up further query as, “Do you believe that human pollution….and greenhouse gases, contribute to global warming? Responding to this, Trump answered, “I think a lot of things do, but I think, to an extent, yes”. In this way, experts believe he agreed to the fact that major cause of climate change is human emissions.

According to prominent portal, Carbon Brief, they have carried out analysis stating that 100% of warming is reflected from activities by humans, in fact since 1950.

Political analysts at New York Times, following the debate, commented that they doubted president’s intention and that his behaviour showed “a willingness to lie, exaggerate and mislead” as he kept on putting the blame squarely upon impoverished forest management causing wildfires. In case of his rival Biden, his statement was upheld and his efforts for economical renewables just like gas and coal are there in America, echoed to be true.

Now, as for discussion between the vice presidents, it occurred on October 7, when Mike Pence and Kamala Harris had face-off while uttering the words, Pence appeared weak in arguments about the causes of climate change and regarded environmentalists as “climate alarmists” and blamed them for hurricanes and wildfires simply to push their vested interest of “trying to sell the Green New Deal”.

Kamala was quick to respond and negated Pence’s statement that she had any interest in banning fracking, though she made tough statements against it, in the past.

Finally, at Tech and Environment, we shall endeavour to revise the above mentioned table from time to time and as soon as fresh updates and clarification emerges from top brass of American leadership.

Faisal Mahmood