VP Climate debate
Credit: NASA Johnson/Flickr

Vice presidential debate reveals contrasting views on U.S. climate, energy future

In the aftermath of widespread devastation wrought by Hurricane Helene, the vice-presidential debate saw a sharp divide over climate policy, with Democrat Tim Walz endorsing clean energy expansion while Republican J.D. Vance expressed skepticism about human-caused climate change.

Tik Root reports for Grist.


In short:

  • J.D. Vance dismissed scientific consensus on climate change, focusing on domestic energy production and questioning clean energy investments.
  • Tim Walz emphasized the urgent need to reduce carbon emissions, highlighting the Biden administration’s clean energy initiatives.
  • The debate showcased persistent political differences, with Democrats pushing for clean energy and Republicans advocating for increased oil and gas production.

Key quote:

“...drill, baby, drill.”

— J.D. Vance, U.S. Senator

Why this matters:

What stood out was the way this exchange underscored the nation's ideological split: One side embraces science and policy solutions to tackle the climate crisis, while the other frames the clean energy transition as a threat to economic growth and energy independence. The real question? How long can we afford to let politics stall action on an issue that’s already shaping our weather, our health, our economy and our future.

Learn more: Mokshda Kaul on making the clean energy transition work for all

The torso of a judge in a black robe holding a gavel on a desk next to a red-covered book.

Judge's sanctions against Michael Mann revive battle over climate defamation case

A Washington, D.C., judge accused climate scientist Michael Mann and his legal team of misconduct during a defamation trial, reigniting a legal fight that has spanned over a decade.

DeSmog reports.

Keep reading...Show less
Sunrise in the woods

Get our Good News newsletter

Get the best positive, solutions-oriented stories we've seen on the intersection of our health and environment, FREE every Tuesday in your inbox. Subscribe here today. Keep the change tomorrow.

A $100 dollar bill encased in an ice block.

EPA chief Lee Zeldin defends freezing $20B in climate grants, citing alleged conflicts

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin on Monday defended his decision to halt $20 billion in climate funding, accusing media and courts of ignoring evidence of misconduct among grant recipients.

Jean Chemnick reports for E&E News.

Keep reading...Show less
Diverse group of young people in an auditorium.

Trump administration crackdown halts over 400 NSF research grants tied to equity and misinformation

A wave of cancellations by the National Science Foundation (NSF) has ended hundreds of research grants, many focused on diversity and misinformation, amid a broader push by the Trump administration to reshape federal science funding.

Katrina Miller and Carl Zimmer report for The New York Times.

Keep reading...Show less
A group of white corals on a coral reef.

Record ocean heat drives catastrophic coral bleaching across 84% of reefs worldwide

A global coral bleaching event has now affected over four-fifths of the planet’s reefs, the most extensive damage ever recorded, as ocean temperatures remain historically high.

Isabella O’Malley reports for The Associated Press.

Keep reading...Show less
A white battery storage building with the words Energy Storage in blue on the side.

Australia expands large-scale battery projects as energy sector pivots toward renewables

Australia is seeing a boom in battery storage investments, with major new facilities planned to stabilize renewable energy use amid uncertainty over future energy policies.

Josh Brine reports for ABC News.

Keep reading...Show less
Utility towers and power lines stretching into the distance at sunset.
Credit: Joe/Pixabay

Utilities seek legal shield from wildfire lawsuits as climate risks grow

As utilities face growing wildfire liability tied to aging power lines and worsening climate conditions, lawmakers across the U.S. West are weighing whether to protect them from massive lawsuits or leave them on the hook.

Alex Brown reports for Stateline.

Keep reading...Show less
Girl with blue button up shirt leaning on blue wall.

Opinion: Wealthy nations rely on climate adaptation while evading responsibility for global harm

Climate disasters are escalating in frequency and scope, but a growing global reliance on adaptation instead of mitigation is allowing the wealthiest countries to sidestep meaningful climate action.

Peter Sutoris writes for Undark.

Keep reading...Show less
From our Newsroom
Regulators are underestimating health impacts from air pollution: Study

Regulators are underestimating health impacts from air pollution: Study

"The reality is, we are not exposed to one chemical at a time.”

Pennsylvania governor Josh Shapiro speaks with the state flag and American flag behind him.

Two years into his term, has Gov. Shapiro kept his promises to regulate Pennsylvania’s fracking industry?

A new report assesses the administration’s progress and makes new recommendations

silhouette of people holding hands by a lake at sunset

An open letter from EPA staff to the American public

“We cannot stand by and allow this to happen. We need to hold this administration accountable.”

wildfire retardants being sprayed by plane

New evidence links heavy metal pollution with wildfire retardants

“The chemical black box” that blankets wildfire-impacted areas is increasingly under scrutiny.

People  sitting in an outdoors table working on a big sign.

Op-ed: Why funding for the environmental justice movement must be anti-racist

We must prioritize minority-serving institutions, BIPOC-led organizations and researchers to lead environmental justice efforts.

joe biden

Biden finalizes long-awaited hydrogen tax credits ahead of Trump presidency

Responses to the new rules have been mixed, and environmental advocates worry that Trump could undermine them.

Stay informed: sign up for The Daily Climate newsletter
Top news on climate impacts, solutions, politics, drivers. Delivered to your inbox week days.