It is estimated that a total of 35 billion tons per year of carbon dioxide are emitted due to fossil fuel and industry consumption. It is a global problem and must be solved through global cooperation. China and India have steadily increased their emissions since 2000, while the US has decreased its emissions.

See link: https://ourworldindata.org/co2-emissions

Donald Trump called climate change a hoax and minimized its impact. When asked about climate change during the debate, he really avoided the topic and bragged how we have the cleanest air and water in the world. It felt like it was almost unpatriotic to talk about the real driver of climate change and extreme weather events, and that is CO₂ emissions.

As California battled the deadliest wildfire in its history in 2018, Donald J. Trump, then the president, initially opposed unlocking federal funding for the state, according to two former Trump administration officials. (Oct 4, NY Times)

See link: Aides Say Trump Resisted Sending Federal Funds After California Wildfires

Then there is Trump’s false claim that FEMA is partisan in providing disaster relief. “Out of more than 20 Florida counties that the federal government designated as eligible for individual and public assistance through Thursday, Mr. Trump lost just three in the 2020 election.” So, in Florida, relief goes to mostly Republican leaning states, and there is no evidence of favoritism.

Link: Trump slams US response to Helene. His own disaster-response record is marked by politics

Link: White House calls Trump’s claim FEMA disaster relief money spent on migrants ‘absolutely false’

Link: FEMA rumor response (Note: Trump promoted some of these rumors, others came from social media sources who seem to have unlimited imagination and find sites willing to post almost anything)

We can do better, but not under Trump. George W. Bush understood the necessity of making the transition to clean energy, and moderate Republicans can work with Democrats in taking practical steps to reduce non-renewable fossil fuels.

“Trump has also signaled that he would drain funding from climate-focused agencies if he’s elected. In discussing budget cuts, he told Fox News, “One of the things that’s so bad for us is environmental agencies. They make it impossible to do anything.”

As president, Trump proposed a 26% budget cut to the EPA in 2020 and a 31% cut in 2019, both of which were ultimately rejected by the Democrat-led House Appropriations Committee.”

With wildfire and hurricane aid in the billions of dollars, we are dealing with the impact of climate change. We need to continue to fund real efforts to lower our consumption of non-renewable fossil fuels.

If elected, Trump will try to repeal sections in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) to provide practical incentives to buyers of electric vehicles and other measures to curb our carbon emissions. It is in line with the Heritage Foundation, Project 2025 objectives. He will take a giant step back in time.

Kamala Harris has talked about the threat of climate change and the damage to communities and families from more severe weather — floods, hurricanes and wildfires — “has been devastating.” “I have always believed, and I have worked on it, that the climate crisis is real,” she told CNN in an interview.

CBS News: Do Trump and Harris have climate change plans? See where both candidates stand

Why is it so important that we continue to be the leaders in the move to transition to clean energy?

Declaring climate change is real and is hurting our country is the first step. The Paris Agreement sets a solid foundation so countries can set goals on plans to transition to clean energy. We need to work with India and China, which are the two largest emitters of CO₂ . We need to work with Brazil and other countries, as they combat the destruction of rainforests, which absorb CO₂.

We need plans not political rhetoric and dishonest tweets. We need global carbon emissions to go down.

On November 4, 2017, the Paris Climate Agreement became effective. It was a great moment, but if we elect Trump, we lose our seat at the negotiating table in transitioning to cleaner renewable fuels.

Elect Kamala Harris, because we can’t afford to go back.

Stay tuned,

Dave