Kamala Harris strongly supported the expansion of fracking and increased U.S. gas production during a recent presidential debate, drawing criticism from environmentalists who felt the ongoing climate crisis was largely neglected.
In her debate with Donald Trump in Philadelphia, Harris countered Trump’s assertion that she would eliminate fracking “on day one” by highlighting record levels of drilling during her tenure as vice president, which saw U.S. oil and gas production reach unprecedented highs. “I will not ban fracking,” she stated, clarifying that she had previously influenced legislation, notably the Inflation Reduction Act, which allowed for new fracking leases. “We must invest in diverse energy sources to reduce our dependence on foreign oil,” she continued.
Harris pointed out the significant increase in domestic gas production and emphasized that the U.S. cannot overly depend on foreign oil. However, scientists assert that a significant reduction in fossil fuel usage, including oil and gas acquired through fracking, is essential to mitigate the climate crisis and avoid dire consequences.
Globally, nations have pledged to maintain the temperature increase within 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels—a target that risks being surpassed in the coming decade due to temperature records being broken. Some environmental advocacy groups, despite having previously supported Harris, expressed disappointment in her pro-fracking stance, which echoed the “all of the above” energy strategy from the Obama era.
“Both candidates celebrated their approval of fracking and fossil fuel production—positions that threaten future generations and communities affected by fossil fuel pollution,” remarked Allie Rosenbluth, campaign manager at Oil Change U.S. She criticized Harris for not adopting a stronger climate-focused narrative.
Harris, known for her progressive record as California’s former attorney general, faces scrutiny over her fracking policy, which appears to be a strategic move to appeal to voters in key battleground states like Pennsylvania, a significant area for the gas industry.
The debate largely overlooked climate issues, with moderators only raising the topic towards the end of the discussion. Throughout the 90 minutes, “climate” was mentioned only four times, primarily by the moderators themselves. Recent data shows the current year is on track to become the hottest recorded, with an increasing number of Americans experiencing severe weather events and expressing concern over climate change.
During the debate, Harris criticized Trump for dismissing the climate crisis as a “hoax,” again linking the issue to the significant investments and job creation resulting from the Inflation Reduction Act.
In contrast, Trump reiterated his intentions to reverse the climate bill and promote fossil fuel production, making various nonsensical claims in his response to a climate change question. He failed to address the climate crisis directly and rather shifted to criticizing Biden’s administration.
For many climate activists, the stakes of the election remain clear. “In a time where extreme weather patterns are affecting lives across the country, Kamala Harris emerged as the only candidate willing to confront climate change,” stated Lori Lodes, executive director of Climate Power, while accusing Trump of being a climate denier with ties to the oil and gas industry.