Why climate experts say this election could be our last chance for meaningful action

Climate change isn’t the number one issue on most people’s minds as they head to the polls for the 2024 election on Nov. 5. And experts repeatedly remind us that time is running out when it comes to meaningful action that can reduce the worst outcomes of climate change — what some have warned is an ongoing “biological holocaust” that will result in “universal suicide.” Experts who spoke with Salon about the 2024 presidential election all agreed on a key point: This election is a critical moment for the planet. Dr. Kevin Trenberth, a distinguished scholar at the National Center for Atmospheric Research, worked for the World Climate Research Programme and has published more than 600 articles on climatology, told Salon “all indications are that Trump would be a major disaster for dealing with and just about everything else that requires international diplomacy.” He added it’s “Not clear how much Harris will be a savior, but she is far and away better than Trump.” "The choice couldn’t be more stark." Although the Democratic nominee’s plan includes stronger emissions regulations and subsidizing clean energy, Harris also supports fossil fuels and fracking and would continue the climate change policies passed by the Inflation Reduction Act. “The problem is not misconception, rather, misinformation,” Serreze said, listing as examples the false claims that climate change is a hoax, that it’s caused by the sun instead of burning fossil fuels, is motivated by "fat government handouts,” is caused by volcanoes or is a government conspiracy.