JD Vance made headlines during the vice presidential debate with Tim Walz in New York City for his controversial stance on climate change. The Republican candidate chose to label climate change as “weird science” and refrained from affirming its reality. In a discussion about carbon emissions driving climate change, Vance expressed scepticism and suggested that even if it were true, it falls under the realm of “weird science.”
This stance contradicts scientific consensus, which asserts that human activity has been responsible for approximately 100% of the Earth’s warming climate since 1950. Vance’s comments came at a critical time when the US was reeling from the impacts of Hurricane Helene, one of the deadliest storms in modern history that claimed over 100 lives. Interestingly, Vance’s running mate, Donald Trump, had also courted controversy by dismissing climate change as “one of the greatest scams of all time” just a day before visiting communities affected by the hurricane in Georgia.
Despite his dismissal of climate change as “weird science”, Vance tried to emphasise his support for environmental concerns by stating, “Donald Trump and I support clean air, clean water, we want the environment to be safer.” He also put forth his solution to tackle carbon emissions, advocating for more manufacturing in America as a means to address the issue.
However, experts point out that carbon emissions, irrespective of their origin, contribute to a warming planet. In a 2024 report by the World Economic Forum, the US was identified as one of the largest greenhouse gas emitters alongside China. Vance’s shifting stance on climate change has been noted, having previously acknowledged the climate crisis as a reality in 2020, only to align more closely with Trump’s position in subsequent years.
Despite scientific warnings linking climate change to extreme weather events like Hurricane Helene, Vance remains sceptical about the anthropogenic causes of climate change. Deanne Criswell, head of FEMA, explicitly linked the severe impacts of the hurricane to the climate emergency, underscoring the urgent need for action. The former vice president, Al Gore, also drew attention to the climate crisis as a factor intensifying extreme weather events like Helene.
In light of the escalating climate crisis and increasing instances of extreme weather events, Vance’s stance on climate change has come under scrutiny. With public opinion shifting towards prioritising environmental concerns, Vance’s position on climate change could potentially impact voter perceptions in the upcoming election.