DESPITE deluges in the South, droughts in the West and fires throughout national forests this year, the words “climate” and “change” have seldom been uttered together on the campaign trail. Fifteen of the 16 hottest years on record have occurred since 2000. Yet Donald Trump has claimed that global warming is a Chinese hoax designed to thwart American businesses (he also denied saying so at the first debate between the candidates, on September 26th). Hillary Clinton believes that “climate change is real” and that dealing with it will create jobs in the renewable-energy sector. In sum, the two candidates offer completely different environmental platforms.
Uncoupling emissions growth and economic expansion is important to slowing climate change. Total energy consumption in America has dropped 1.5% since Barack Obama became president, according to the White House; in that time the economy has swelled by 10%. America now generates more than three times as much electricity from wind, and 30 times as much electricity from solar, as it did eight years ago.
Most voters accept that climate change is...Continue reading
Source: United States http://ift.tt/2dxdMtT
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