Hurricane Helene Causes Trump and Vance to Reel as Climate Denial Stance Falters | Climate Emergency

JD Vance, the Republican vice-presidential nominee, was forced to cancel two campaign events in Georgia due to the threat posed by Hurricane Helene. Climate activists highlighted the irony of Vance and President Donald Trump being affected by extreme weather worsened by climate change, which they have previously mocked. Climate experts have tied the intensification of hurricanes like Helene to human-caused climate change, with warming oceans and a hotter atmosphere leading to stronger storms. Vance, who has expressed skepticism about man-made climate change, attended fundraising events in Texas hosted by oil industry executives. Trump has promised the oil and gas industry regulatory rollbacks and criticized clean energy initiatives. However, the Trump campaign has had to deal with extreme temperatures and storms during rallies, with attendees requiring medical attention due to the heat. Experts warn that the impact of the climate crisis on political campaigns will only increase, as events need additional infrastructure to address heat-related issues. The potential privatization of weather services under a future Trump administration, as outlined in Project 2025, has faced criticism from experts who warn of the dangers of eliminating crucial public weather warnings and emergency response coordination. Despite these concerns, supporters of the Heritage Foundation, which published the policy blueprint, have defended the proposals.

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