As the 2024 Presidential election enters its final stages, both major parties have published their election platforms. The Democrats have published a total of 91 pages covering all their promises, and the Republicans have published 16 pages. In 2020, the Democrats also published 91 pages, while the Republicans instead adopted a resolution promising continuity with ongoing Trump administration priorities (I wrote about the 2020 pronouncements HERE ). The remainder of this note summarizes the environmental elements in both parties’ 2024 platforms. Both documents conform to the parties’ general priorities, with the Democrats emphasizing continuing and expanding environmental policies of the most recent years while the Republicans promise to reduce regulatory burdens in line with returning to the policies of their most recent administration.
What does the Republican platform say about environmental priorities?
The Republican party platform hearkens back to the party’s view of US history and to accomplishments during President Trump’s term, and contrasts these with events and priorities during President Biden’s term. In summary, this platform “offer[s] to the American people the 2024 GOP Platform to Make America Great Again! It is a forward-looking Agenda that begins with the following twenty promises that we will accomplish very quickly when we win the White House and Republican Majorities in the House and Senate.” There is no enumerated promise relating to environmental policy, which is subsumed within the party’s state priorities. In particular, two of the promises (all are presented in ALL-CAP) are:
- MAKE AMERICA THE DOMINANT ENERGY PRODUCER IN THE WORLD, BY FAR!
- CANCEL THE ELECTRIC VEHICLE MANDATE AND CUT COSTLY AND BURDENSOME REGULATIONS
These themes of expanded energy production and reduced regulation thread through several other promises. For example, the promise to DEFEAT INFLATION AND QUICKLY BRING DOWN ALL PRICES includes the following items:
- Unleash American Energy. Under President Trump, the U.S. became the Number One Producer of Oil and Natural Gas in the World — and we will soon be again by lifting restrictions on American Energy Production and terminating the Socialist Green New Deal. Republicans will unleash Energy Production from all sources, including nuclear, to immediately slash Inflation and power American homes, cars, and factories with reliable, abundant, and affordable Energy.
- Cut Costly and Burdensome Regulations. Republicans will reinstate President Trump's Deregulation Policies, which saved Americans $11,000 per household, and end Democrats’ regulatory onslaught that disproportionately harms low- and middle-income households.
What does the Democratic platform say about environmental priorities?
The Democratic platform also contextualizes this year’s promises within the party’s reading of long-term and recent history, including sharp contrasts with President Trump’s actions in the past and promises for the future. However, consistent with the party’s expansive attention to environmental issues, the Democratic platform presents detailed promises, grouped into nine chapters. Chapter 4 is “Tackling the Climate Crisis, Lowering Energy Costs, & Securing Energy Independence.” These include:
- Producing Cleaner, More Affordable Energy – this section touts the Biden Administration's promotion of “solar, wind, battery, and other clean technologies,” and transmission grid enhancements
- Lowering Energy Costs – this section emphasizes efforts during the current term, and would extend them into the next: tax and financial incentives; support for cheaper renewable energy; and appliance and vehicle efficiency standards
- Creating Clean Energy Jobs – this section focuses on the capital investments and jobs associated with clean energy programs; and associated support for job training programs and agricultural policies
- Reducing Pollution & Making Polluters Pay – this section describes economic and environmental benefits from efforts to transform the US energy systems; promises to “keep stepping up action to crack down on other forms of air and water pollution” by tightening environmental standards, accelerating cleanups, and augmenting enforcement; and reducing “unfair oil and gas subsidies”
- Environmental Justice – this section describes ongoing efforts to incorporate environmental justice as a priority in climate, environmental and energy policies and programs
- Building Climate Resilient Communities – this section explains that “infrastructure and climate laws are improving our climate resilience by boosting readiness and response, including by recruiting and retaining more wildland firefighters, and increasing budgets at FEMA;” and promises continuing expansion of disaster planning and response programs
- Conservation – this section describes ongoing land and ecosystem preservation efforts
- Global Climate Leadership – this section begins with the US return to the Paris Accords, and continues with summaries of US efforts to address climate change
What’s Next?
As I write this, the US presidential election is only weeks away. The relevance of the parties’ promises will be decided on November 5, 2024. Even if they do win, parties cannot always be counted on to pursue their platforms’ policies, let alone to succeed when trying to do so.
Self-Assessment Checklist
Does the organization conduct activities subject to federal environmental regulations?
Do the organization’s activities include development and/or sale of technologies or services related to environmental protection laws?
Do the organization’s activities include development and/or sale of technologies or services related to energy production or supply?
Where Can I Go For More Information?
About the Author
Jon Elliott is President of Touchstone Environmental and has been a major contributor to STP’s product range for over 30 years.
Mr. Elliott has a diverse educational background. In addition to his Juris Doctor (University of California, Boalt Hall School of Law, 1981), he holds a Master of Public Policy (Goldman School of Public Policy [GSPP], UC Berkeley, 1980), and a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering (Princeton University, 1977).
Mr. Elliott is active in professional and community organizations. In addition, he is a past chairman of the Board of Directors of the GSPP Alumni Association, and past member of the Executive Committee of the State Bar of California's Environmental Law Section (including past chair of its Legislative Committee).
You may contact Mr. Elliott directly at: tei@ix.netcom.com