What’s at Stake in November

This November, voters may have the rare opportunity to choose between two administrations that have already each had four years in office. Regardless of who ends up at the top of the ticket, when it comes to climate in particular, a lot is at stake.

As Biden’s first term is winding down, the administration has been enacting numerous climate initiatives on top of his already robust climate wins, like new guidance on clean energy permitting and a new solar program. Meanwhile, former President Trump has promised to “drill, baby, drill” on day one, and roll back as much of Biden’s landmark climate legislation as possible.

This week, we take a look back at how both administrations handled climate issues, the effects of those choices and what they promise to do if given another term in the White House.

Nathaniel Stinnett

Founder and Executive Director, Environmental Voter Project

Coral Davenport

Energy and Environmental Policy Reporter, New York Times

Emma Shortis

Senior Researcher, International & Security Affairs Program, Australia Institute; Adjunct Senior Fellow, RMIT University

Cheaper, Faster, Better: Tom Steyer on Winning the Climate War 
August 27, 2024 | 6:00 p.m.
Most people know of Tom Steyer as the billionaire investor and climate organizer who ran for president in the 2020 election on a climate platform. While he didn’t win, his dedication to supporting and advancing climate solutions has remained steadfast.

In his new book, “Cheaper, Faster, Better: How We’ll Win the Climate War,” Steyer argues that we are in a defining moment: We face the daunting, existential threat of climate change. And yet, with this great challenge comes a great opportunity for innovation, global leadership and economic growth.

Join us for a lively conversation about the market’s role in solving the climate crisis. Can capitalism really save us?

Jane Goodall: Celebrating 90
September 16, 2024 | 6:00 p.m.
Environmental icon Jane Goodall returns to Climate One in person to reflect back on her life’s work and offer a look forward to how we can heal our relationship with nature by better understanding ourselves. The indefatigable Goodall is now focused on three intertwined crises: biodiversity loss, climate change and environmental inequity.

Dr. Goodall will be in conversation with Climate One Founder Greg Dalton and Rhett Butler, founder of Mongabay, a nonprofit media organization that delivers news and inspiration from nature's frontline via a network of more than 900 journalists in about 80 countries. Mongabay covers forests, wildlife, oceans, and other conservation topics in six languages and is celebrating its 25th birthday this year.

Join us for an inspiring evening at the Sydney Goldstein Theater on the harsh truths facing all life on Earth and a bright yet narrow path forward.

Justin Pearson: No Justice Without Climate Justice
September 18, 2024 | 6:00 p.m.
On March 27, 2023, six people were gunned down in a mass shooting at The Covenant School in Nashville. The horrific event led Tennessee State Rep. Justin J. Pearson and two colleagues to protest for common sense gun legislation on the Tennessee House floor. House Republicans retaliated by expelling Pearson and his colleague Justin Jones. Pearson ran and won back his seat with 94% of the vote.

Pearson became a national voice for common sense gun regulation. He is also a strong advocate for climate and environmental justice, having worked to defeat a multi-billion dollar crude oil pipeline that could have poisoned Memphis drinking water and taken land from South Memphis residents. The Sierra Club recognized him as the 2023 National Changemaker of the Year.

Join us for a conversation with a rising voice for environmental justice.

Donald Trump announced Sen. JD Vance (R-OH) as his nominee for vice president at this week’s Republican National Convention. A venture capitalist with strong ties to the oil and gas industries, Vance has questioned whether humans contribute to climate change, advocated for the repeal of the Inflation Reduction Act and called for a dramatic expansion of Ohio’s fracking infrastructure. 

Vance was not always such a staunch opponent of climate action. As recently as 2020, Vance gave a speech at Ohio State University where he highlighted our “climate problem” and the risks posed by relying on gas for heat and electricity. But after the oil and gas industry contributed at least $283,000 to Vance’s 2022 senate campaign, which made him one of the largest recipients of fossil fuel contributions among all members of Congress, the Ohio senator embraced nonrenewable energy.

Vance’s opposition to the Inflation Reduction Act also clashes with his stated goals of improving the lives of Ohioans. The landmark climate legislation invests an estimated $12.8 billion in Ohio-based clean energy funding, and so far nearly 3,000 jobs have been created in the state due to IRA funding. One particularly striking example is the $500 million allocated toward decarbonizing the steel plant in Middletown, Vance’s hometown and the focus of his novel, “Hillbilly Elegy.” 

PLUS:

Is there an outstanding climate communicator in your life? Nominations are now open for Climate One’s annual Stephen H. Schneider Award for Outstanding Climate Science Communication. Anyone can submit a name for consideration, regardless of whether you personally work in the climate field.

Past winners include Katharine Hayhoe, Robert Bullard, Ben Santer and Naomi Oreskes. Complete criteria for the award is available on our website, and you can also reply to this email with any questions. Submissions are open now through July 31.

Nuclear energy is an increasingly rare example of an issue with bipartisan support. Earlier this month, Congress passed the ADVANCE Act with near-unanimous approval. The new law streamlines the reactor permitting approval process and allocates additional resources to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the federal body responsible for overseeing the nuclear industry.

But some scientists and climate activists have raised concerns about the ADVANCE Act, saying it caters to nuclear energy companies at the expense of the environment and hampers the NRC’s ability to regulate. What does the future of this complicated energy sector look like? Climate One spoke with three nuclear insiders to find out.

Source: BloombergNEF

Do you work outdoors, in a kitchen or a warehouse or at another workplace where you are feeling the heat? Have rising temperatures impacted the way you do your job? We want to hear your story. 

Please send us an email at climateone@commonwealthclub.org or leave us a voicemail at ‪(650) 382-3869‬ and let us know how climate change is affecting you on the job, and we may use it in an upcoming episode. Thanks for sharing!