“Climate Change Takes a Backseat in Biden-Trump Debate: What You Need to Know”

The recent CNN-hosted debate between President Joe Biden and former president Donald Trump touched on a variety of issues, with only a brief mention of climate change. Both candidates seemed eager for the confrontation, with Biden warning voters about Trump’s radicalism and Trump focusing on Biden’s alleged cognitive decline. Most of the debate centered around immigration and the economy, but when asked about addressing the climate crisis, neither candidate gave a direct answer.

Biden highlighted his administration’s efforts to encourage clean energy technologies, while Trump rambled about clean water and air without addressing the question. Trump also took credit for pulling the U.S. out of the Paris Agreement, calling it a “ripoff.” In contrast, Biden mentioned the Inflation Reduction Act, which contains significant funding for clean energy programs and aims to cut greenhouse gas emissions by up to 42% by 2030.

Experts warn that a second Trump term could lead to a significant increase in U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, causing $900 billion in additional climate damages globally. Trump’s history of erratic statements on climate change, including calling it a hoax orchestrated by China, has raised concerns about his approach to the issue if re-elected.

Despite the importance of addressing climate change, the debate only briefly touched on the topic, disappointing climate experts and observers. Some have even called into question Biden’s performance, with calls for him to withdraw from the race. The lack of in-depth discussion on climate change highlights the need for more focus on this critical issue in future debates.

This article was originally published by Grist, a nonprofit media organization dedicated to telling stories of climate solutions and a just future.