Two-thousand sixteen has been a record year for climate change. As of now, we are set to have the hottest year on record (Chan). This year also saw the passing of 400 parts per million of CO2, something Earth has not seen for the past four million years (Kahn). Because of this, climate change was a prominent topic during the 2016 presidential election and created a divide between liberals and conservatives. Clinton called for an expansion of President Obama’s climate policies as well as a movement toward natural gas as a bridge to renewables, whereas Trump “dismissed” climate change as a Chinese “hoax,” promised to “rescind Mr. Obama’s climate change rules,” “has called for ... fewer environmental regulations,” and garnered large amounts of
…show more content…
They continue to oppose climate science and have further objected to the idea of using science in policy to make, what they feel should be. moral decisions. In their view, the science is “liberal” and often conflicts with Christian teachings, such as teachings on homosexuality and evolution (Callison, 123). With 30 million evangelicals living in the United States, they are a critical demographic for both parties. Their importance is furthered by their heavy involvement in politics and the creation of …show more content…
Because evangelicals, who tend to vote for conservative candidates who will protect their primary beliefs regarding the economy and moral issues, generally distrust science, Trump was able to play off of a social divide within the US. Further, his call to the rural, uneducated poor who felt attacked by Clinton’s proposed policies allowed him to garner further support. As a result, climate change’s social divides became a key factor in the 2016 election. Looking forward, this divide will likely continue and will influence Trump’s climate policies. Trump is currently considering a number of climate contrarians and corporate executives with a vested interest in climate change denial as cabinet members. However these actions are being juxtaposed by the general trend seen in American industries, which are moving toward sustainable practices as a way to save money. During the next four years, we will likely see contrasting actions taken by corporations and the federal government, specifically with regard to the use of
They continue to oppose climate science and have further objected to the idea of using science in policy to make, what they feel should be. moral decisions. In their view, the science is “liberal” and often conflicts with Christian teachings, such as teachings on homosexuality and evolution (Callison, 123). With 30 million evangelicals living in the United States, they are a critical demographic for both parties. Their importance is furthered by their heavy involvement in politics and the creation of …show more content…
Because evangelicals, who tend to vote for conservative candidates who will protect their primary beliefs regarding the economy and moral issues, generally distrust science, Trump was able to play off of a social divide within the US. Further, his call to the rural, uneducated poor who felt attacked by Clinton’s proposed policies allowed him to garner further support. As a result, climate change’s social divides became a key factor in the 2016 election. Looking forward, this divide will likely continue and will influence Trump’s climate policies. Trump is currently considering a number of climate contrarians and corporate executives with a vested interest in climate change denial as cabinet members. However these actions are being juxtaposed by the general trend seen in American industries, which are moving toward sustainable practices as a way to save money. During the next four years, we will likely see contrasting actions taken by corporations and the federal government, specifically with regard to the use of