Climate Change in the Eyes of Political Parties
- Sophie Persia
- Jan 6
- 5 min read
By Sophie Persia
1/6/25
David King once stated, “Climate change is the most severe problem that we are facing today, more serious even than the threat of terrorism.” In this quote, King stresses the imminent danger that the world is facing at present, climate change. Climate change is the increase in sea surface temperatures, severity of weather, declining air quality, and destabilizing natural systems as a result of the increase in greenhouse gases. These changes can have many detrimental effects on human health. These effects include direct and indirect results, for example, heat-related illnesses, waterborne diseases, exposure to environmental toxins, respiratory diseases, and mental health stress. These effects will continue to escalate as urban populations increase and become less adaptable to climate change. The numerous negative effects on the environment and human population demonstrate how important it is to mitigate these conditions.
Unfortunately, only 36% of Americans reported a concern about climate change, according to a study done by Pew Research Center. The main debate of the topic lies in the motivators that drive scientists to research climate change, as many citizens have stopped trusting modern scientists and researchers. This modern ideal has carried over into politics, as more liberal-minded individuals tend to see more importance in the environment. In contrast, more conservative-minded individuals tend to care less about the topic. The topic of climate change has differed in the eyes of political parties, but it has remained an area of concern to the Democratic Party and the Citizens’ Climate Lobby.
Climate Change and the Democratic Party
According to a study done by Pew Research Center, 78% of Democrats agree that climate change should be a top priority addressed in government. Additionally, most Democrats believe that the government is doing too little to address the drastic effects of climate change. In the 2024 Party Platform published by the Democratic Party, the party’s goals for environmental justice and plans for confronting climate change are outlined. During the four years of former President Joe Biden’s term, he worked alongside Vice President Kamala Harris to enact many policies that tackle climate change. One example of this is the Greenhouse Gas Reduction fund, a $27 billion project to protect communities facing the effects of climate change by reducing climate pollution, improving air quality, lowering energy costs, and providing steady-income jobs. Moreover, Biden implemented a Presidential Executive Order on Environmental Justice for All that aimed to deepen Congress’ commitment to environmental justice, protect communities from pollution and ecological concerns, strengthen community engagement, promote ongoing environmental research, launch a new Office of Environmental Justice within the White House Council on Environmental Quality, increase accountability of agencies, and build upon prior ecological justice work. The Democratic Party feels strongly about providing a healthier environment for future generations through policies and executive orders.
Climate Change and the Republican Party
According to a 2024 study done by Pew Research, only 12% of Republicans believe that climate change is a top priority. Furthermore, Republicans are more inclined to deny that climate change is a real and prominent issue in the United States. These values and beliefs are heavily reflected by the policies enacted by the Republican Party. For example, on January 20, 2025, President Donald Trump signed multiple executive orders, one of which declared a national energy emergency. However, this does not include all forms of energy; it mainly focuses on the increase in production of fossil fuels. With an increase in fossil fuel use, this further damages the environment and contributes to climate change. Yet, Trump’s executive order does not address the fears of climate change, but the high energy costs American citizens are facing. It is clear that the Republican Party does not view climate change as a threat to the U.S. and instead supports policies that further contribute to this problem.
Differing Objectives
It is evident that the Democratic and Republican Parties have differing opinions on climate change. On one hand, the Democratic Party acknowledges the great challenge climate change brings to the globe. Furthermore, Democrats have worked towards ending climate change and changing the destructive lifestyles of citizens. The Democrats' enactment of the Greenhouse Gas Reduction and Environmental Justice for All has pushed the U.S. towards working to provide a healthier planet for mankind. In contrast, the Republican Party has enacted laws and policies that continue to exacerbate climate change. President Trump’s national energy emergency has pushed for the continuation of fossil fuels and harmful sources of energy that contribute to climate change. There are several views on how the government should address climate change.
Interest Groups
In the midst of confusion and concern about climate change, there are numerous interest groups that are pushing for reform. For example, Citizens’ Climate Lobby (CCL) is a nonpartisan grassroots organization concerned with the national and global climate change crisis.14 CCL aims to unite citizens concerned with climate change, rather than divide the groups based on partisan ideals. This interest group trains volunteers to build valuable relationships with local elected officials, media, and their community. They are very focused on building relationships with federal elected officials. CCL hosts local chapters throughout the globe to build support for climate action. Their goal is to move officials towards solutions that will “preserve a healthy climate and ensure a liveable world.”15 During the 118th Congress, CCL volunteers met with Congress 2,548 times and contacted them 216,288 times.16 Additionally, CCL has passed 9 laws that have been signed into law, and currently has the Fix Our Forests Act moving through Congress.17 This act focuses on improving forest health, increasing resilience to wildfires, and boosting forest restoration projects.18 CCL is a very successful interest group that is advocating for a healthier planet for all. The Democratic Party advocates for climate change reform alongside interest groups such as the CCL; however, the Republican Party has been advocating for policies that further contribute to climate change. Just as David King stressed, climate change is an evolving problem that needs to be addressed by the government and the church. It is integral that interest groups like the CCL advocate for policies and legislation that will shed light on these horrific issues. Although Democrats and Republicans have differing views on climate change, it is important to set partisan differences aside to work towards a common objective, just as the Catholic Church states: fixing the home of 8 billion people.
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