logo
episode-header-image
Oct 2020
40m 8s

Episode 9: What Does the US Election Mea...

CHATHAM HOUSE
About this episode

The media cycle in the US and across the world is consumed by the final weeks of the 2020 presidential election, with incumbent Donald Trump hoping to win a second term against the challenge of former Vice-President Joe Biden. Much of the debates around the election have focused on the response to COVID-19, and the candidates' positions on issues related to 'law and order'. But what will the election mean for climate policy? And how will the result affect the international negotiations at COP26 and beyond?

To find out Anna speaks to Amy Harder, an energy and climate change reporter at Axios, about Trump's first term of climate policy and the campaign pledges of the respective candidates. Then Ben discusses the international implications with Jennifer Morgan, the Executive Director of Greenpeace International. 

Credits:

Speakers: Amy Harder, Jennifer Morgan

Hosts: Anna Aberg, Ben Horton

Editor: Jamie Reed

Recorded and produced by Chatham House

Up next
May 20
Oil and gas producers in the Gulf: a deep dive (Part 2 of 2)
All eyes are currently on the Gulf due to the US–Israel conflict with Iran and the disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz. In this two-part series, the Climate Briefing co-hosts and their guests take a deep dive into the region, which plays a crucial role in the global supply of ... Show More
51m 50s
May 5
Making the global circular economy transition happen
Today's 'take–make–dispose' economy operates in a linear way: resources are extracted, turned into products, used, and then discarded — with severe consequences for the climate and environment. Transitioning to a circular economy means replacing this system with one that keeps ma ... Show More
37m 37s
Apr 21
Oil and gas producers in the Gulf: a deep dive (part 1 of 2)
All eyes are currently on the Gulf due to the US-Israel war with Iran and the disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz. In this two-part series, the Climate Briefing co-hosts and their guests take a deep dive into the region, which plays a crucial role in the global supply of oil ... Show More
34m 17s
Recommended Episodes
Nov 2020
How Much Does the President Matter for the Climate?
When it comes to climate change, it can feel like our future hangs in the balance of this presidential election in the U.S. But how much does the president really matter? And how can climate action move forward regardless of who wins? This week, Alex and Ayana talk with Abigail D ... Show More
48m 56s
Oct 2020
How 2020 Became a Climate Election
For years, American politicians have failed to take climate change seriously. The 2016 presidential debates didn’t even include a single climate question. Fast-forward four years, and climate change is a major election issue. So how did 2020 become a climate election? This week, ... Show More
55m 22s
Sep 2021
The Climate Election? | Germany Elects
In this final episode of Germany Elects before polling day (Sunday 26 September) we discuss how the election actually works and whether this has been Germany's first "climate election". Host Jeremy Cliffe is joined by World Review's Emily Tamkin to explain the electoral system, t ... Show More
45m 42s
Jun 2024
UK Election Special: Climate
In the first in a series of episodes on the UK general election, James Butler is joined by Ann Pettifor and Adrienne Buller to discuss climate policy and its apparent absence from the campaign so far. Several years ago the Labour Party was committed to a Green New Deal but has si ... Show More
56m 52s
Apr 2021
U.S. Renews Its Commitment To Addressing Climate Change
President Biden is hosting dozens of world leaders for a virtual climate summit on Thursday and Friday. The administration is trying to regain ground lost by pulling out of the Paris climate agreement during the Trump administration. The Biden team is promising dramatic cuts in g ... Show More
13m 45s
Apr 2021
Can the U.S. Win Back Its Climate Credibility?
<p>During a global climate summit, President Biden signaled America’s commitment to fighting climate change with an ambitious target: The U.S. will cut its economywide carbon emissions by 50 percent of 2005 levels by 2030.  </p><p>What became clear is that the rest of the world h ... Show More
27m 1s
Aug 2023
Prof Jim Skea: living in an era of 'global boiling'
July 2023 has been confirmed as the hottest month ever on Earth. A combination of heatwaves across the Northern Hemisphere, unseasonable warmth in parts of South America and Antarctica, and global sea surface temperatures around 0.51°C above the 30-year average, meant it broke al ... Show More
26m 22s