Earth In Crisis: Tale Of Two Parties
What Democrats And Republicans Say — And Don’t Say — About The Climate Crisis In This Critical Election Year

By Tracey MacDermott
For the GPHN
We are in the final push of election season and climate change is on our minds. Last month we reviewed the two presidential candidates and their positions on climate. This month let’s explore the major parties’ platforms when it comes to climate change.
Project 2025, the Heritage Foundation’s playbook for a Republican administration, calls to dismantle clean energy programs and continue to uplift the oil and gas companies. Is this also the position of the GOP platform? Republicans at their national convention certainly pushed for more drilling, while remaining silent on climate change — seemingly in alignment with Project 2025.
The GOP’s website (gop.com) lists six action items such as volunteering, “swamping” the vote and election integrity. Glaringly absent are mentions of other issues on many voters’ minds — including global warming.
Not all Republicans are ignoring the growing and urgent crisis. House members such as John Curtis of Utah and Colorado’s Doug Lamborn (who is not seeking reelection) are part of the Conservative Climate Caucus (CCC). The CCC’s webpage concurs that the climate is changing, and points a finger at China while pushing for innovation through the free market.

As this year will go down as the hottest on record, why isn’t the CCC pushing for innovative climate policy versus “fighting against radical progressive climate proposals”? Might we be in our current mess because we have let the free market control our energy sources and pollute the planet?
The Sunrise Movement, a progressive youth-led organization, released a statement after the GOP convention: “Make no mistake. Just because Republicans don’t want to talk about their climate plans to voters, doesn’t mean that their radical, anti-climate agenda that empowers oil and gas billionaires to destroy our planet won’t be a top priority for a second Trump administration. Another Trump presidency would cause catastrophic and irreversible damage to our climate.”
After President Biden passed the torch to Kamala Harris, the Sunrise Movement sent a letter to Harris requesting the backing of the Green New Deal, affordable housing, prioritizing gun violence and other critical social programs.
Some have criticized the Democrats for a lack of highlighting the climate crisis in its party platform. However, consider the actions the Biden administration has taken on climate.
Much like the Affordable Care Act, which insured more than 45 million people, the Inflation Reduction Act is the biggest climate bill ever crafted, and indeed, championed by Democratic leadership. The final vote in the Senate was 51-50 — with all 50 Democrats in favor and all 50 Republicans voting no. Vice President Harris broke the tie, securing victory for the planet.
The Democratic National Committee’s webpage includes a long list of concerns, from reproductive rights to voting rights, LGBTQ+, growing the middle class, and yes climate change.
The DNC also continue to speak out against environmental injustices inflicted in marginalized communities. This is an injustice we must not look away from.
Their website notes, “…we will work with affected frontline communities to develop a screening and mapping tool to ensure racial and socioeconomic equity in federal climate, energy, and infrastructure programs and identify areas of high cumulative pollution that threatens residents’ health and safety.”
The DNC climate platform addresses our national parks and monuments, worker safety, air and water, threats to farmers, and of course, the climate urgency we face. “…We believe the scientists: the window for unprecedented and necessary action is closing and closing fast.”
Yes, the window is closing and we as citizens of this planet cannot let it shut. The complete DNC’s statement on climate change can be read at the link:
Democrats.org/where-we-stand/party-platform/combating-the-climate-crisis-and-pursuing-environmental-justice/
Please, check out both of the parties’ platforms, review their climate positions — and vote.
Tracey MacDermott is an at-large board member of Greater Park Hill Community, Inc. She was trained as a Climate Reality Leader in 2017 and is the group’s Denver Metro Chapter Chair. She also chairs the Sustainability Committee for the Business and Professional Women of Colorado and the National Federation for Business and Professional Women. Email her at traceymacdermott@gmail.com