What’s at stake on Tuesday? The planet

illuminem summarizes for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on CNN or enjoy below:

🗞️ Driving the news: The upcoming U.S. election presents a stark choice on climate action, with Vice President Kamala Harris supporting the Biden administration’s Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and clean energy expansion, while former President Trump has vowed to dismantle climate regulations
• The IRA has boosted clean energy investments, but a rollback could halt these advances, leaving the U.S. trailing in the global green economy race

🔭 The context: Under Biden, the IRA incentivized clean technology, attracting hundreds of billions in private investment and spurring growth in solar, wind, and energy efficiency
• Trump’s proposed agenda includes reversing emission limits, pulling the U.S. from climate agreements, and freezing regulatory progress, all of which would impact American energy security and undermine international climate cooperation

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: This election could determine the trajectory of U.S. climate policy, with global implications for emissions and green investment
• The continuation of IRA-supported projects could sustain momentum towards reducing greenhouse gases, while a reversal risks increasing emissions and pushing green industry opportunities abroad

⏭️ What's next: If Harris wins, climate initiatives would likely accelerate, building on existing policies and investments
• A Trump victory, however, could lead to swift regulatory rollbacks, affecting U.S. climate commitments and market stability for long-term clean energy projects

💬 One quote: “Stop and go, for things that involve 20- or 30-year plant investment, just scares the whole industry away from a country that’s inconsistent” – Bill Gates

📈 One stat: Clean energy incentives under the IRA have led to dozens of projects nationwide, with over 75% of funds benefiting Republican districts

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