Where do Trump and Haley stand on climate change?
As the presidential primary season continues across the nation, the divergent approaches of the leading Republican candidates, former President Donald Trump and former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, on the issue of climate change are under scrutiny.
The GOP frontrunner maintains a stance against most climate change legislation, consistent with his position during his presidency. Notably, Trump withdrew the United States from the Paris Agreement, a global climate initiative aimed at addressing climate change, a decision later reversed by President Joe Biden. Trump rolled back numerous environmental regulations throughout his tenure, citing support for the nation's energy industry. His rhetoric has consistently minimized the severity of climate change and its global implications.
In contrast, Haley acknowledges the reality of human-caused climate change while advocating for U.S. energy independence. Her campaign platform emphasizes cutting what she describes as "Biden's wasteful green energy subsidies and regulations" and promoting domestic oil production while streamlining pipeline permitting processes. However, Haley also expresses openness to alternative energy sources like carbon capture and nuclear energy as potential alternatives to fossil fuels.
More: Which states vote on Super Tuesday? What to know ahead of the presidential primaries
Furthermore, Haley stresses the importance of engaging with other nations, particularly significant emitters like China and India, to address climate change on a global scale. She views diplomatic efforts as crucial in encouraging emissions reductions and fostering international cooperation in combating climate change.
The contrasting positions of Trump and Haley on climate change present voters with distinct choices. Trump's emphasis on deregulation and traditional energy sources contrasts with Haley's approach, which acknowledges the need to address climate change while prioritizing energy independence and exploring alternative solutions.
More: What is propaganda? What's a deep fake? And can they influence elections?
Jeremy Yurow is a politics reporting fellow based in Hawaii for the USA TODAY Network. You can reach him at JYurow@gannett.com or on X @JeremyYurow
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Trump and Haley offer stark contrasts on climate policy
