2024 elections Project 2025
Credit: Gage Skidmore/Flickr

Republicans scramble as Democrats weaponize Project 2025

Democrats are turning the tables on Republicans by using Project 2025, a controversial conservative policy blueprint, as a powerful political weapon.

Garrett Downs and Timothy Cama report for E&E News.


In short:

  • Democrats are linking Republicans to Project 2025, a detailed policy manual, to portray them as extreme ahead of the upcoming election.
  • Republicans, who once used the Green New Deal to attack Democrats, are now on the defensive as Project 2025 proves unpopular with voters.
  • Polls show Project 2025’s policies, like cutting renewable energy funding and mass firing government workers, are largely rejected by the public.

Key quote:

“This is just rocket fuel for Democratic motivation and turnout.”

— Rep. Jared Huffman (D-Calif.), House Democratic task force leader.

Why this matters:

While the Green New Deal was about aggressively tackling climate change with sweeping reforms, Project 2025 seems to be a pivot in the opposite direction, potentially undermining environmental protections in favor of deregulation. For the average American, this could mean a rollback on efforts to curb emissions, protect public lands, and address climate justice. Read more: Greenwashing’s medieval age.

Residents from Pennsylvania's Mon Valley region listen to local and national candidates speak about environmental issues
Credit: Kristina Marusic for EHN

Pennsylvania voters press local, national candidates on fracking just days before election

Environmental justice communities near fracking want more answers — less political football.

PITTSBURGH — Fracking took center stage on Wednesday night, when political candidates who will be on the ballot in Pennsylvania on Election Day answered questions about environmental justice from local environmental advocacy groups and community members.

Keep reading...Show less
Senator Whitehouse & climate change

Senator Whitehouse puts climate change on budget committee’s agenda

For more than a decade, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse gave daily warnings about the mounting threat of climate change. Now he has a powerful new perch.
Donald Trump speaking
Credit: Gage Skidmore/Flickr

Trump’s plans for rolling back climate protections signal a fossil-fueled future

With a second term in sight, Donald Trump’s environmental strategy aims to wipe out protections for air, water, and public lands while undercutting climate science and strengthening fossil fuel interests.

Coral Davenport, Christopher Flavelle and Lisa Friedman report for The New York Times.

Keep reading...Show less
Vice president Kamala Harris

Climate advocates intensify final campaign push for Harris

Climate activists are doubling down on voter outreach efforts supporting Vice President Kamala Harris in the final days of the presidential campaign, viewing her as a pivotal figure in the fight against climate change.

Rachel Frazin reports for The Hill.

Keep reading...Show less
field full of solar panels

New Mexico faces tensions between clean energy and oil interests in key House race

New Mexico’s 2nd Congressional District is grappling with competing economic interests as Democrats emphasize clean energy jobs and Republicans defend oil and gas, with the race’s outcome impacting control of the U.S. House.

Josh Siegel reports for POLITICO.

Keep reading...Show less
scuba diver near a coral reef
Credit: NEOM/Unsplash

Biodiversity talks stall as governments miss targets on nature protection

As negotiations continue at Cop16, experts warn that governments are falling short on critical biodiversity commitments made two years ago, risking another decade of missed goals to safeguard ecosystems.

Patrick Greenfield reports for The Guardian.

Keep reading...Show less
EU Greenhouse emissions
Credit: Vicuna R/Flickr

EU sees steep drop in greenhouse emissions, but gaps remain to meet 2030 targets

A new report shows EU greenhouse emissions fell by 8% last year, marking significant progress toward climate goals but signaling the need for more aggressive action.

Ajit Niranjan reports for The Guardian.

Keep reading...Show less
Space X and Starlink satellites
Credit: ANIRUDH/Unsplash

Musk’s Starlink launches spark calls from scientists for a federal review of environmental risks

A coalition of over 100 researchers is urging the federal government to halt new low-orbit satellite launches, including Musk’s Starlink, until environmental impacts are thoroughly studied.

Sarah Fortinsky reports for The Hill.

Keep reading...Show less
From our Newsroom
U.S. Steel Pennsylvania pollution

Coal-based steelmaking in Pennsylvania causes up to 92 premature deaths and $1.4 billion in health costs every year: Report

Just three facilities near Pittsburgh cost the state $16 million in lost economic activity annually, according to a new report.

COP16 UN biodiversity

Pollution is one of the top drivers of biodiversity loss. Why is no one talking about it at COP16?

“Chemicals are really at the center of this triple planetary crisis of pollution, biodiversity and climate change.”

COP16 UN biodiversity

La contaminación es una de las principales amenazas de la biodiversidad. ¿Por qué nadie habla de ella en la COP16?

“Las sustancias químicas están realmente en el centro de esta triple crisis planetaria de contaminación, biodiversidad y cambio climático”.

clean energy transition

Op-ed: Labor and environmental groups can both win in the clean energy transition. Here’s how.

Groups are choosing to repair broken lines of communication and visualize the transition for its true potential to mitigate climate change – the common enemy.

environmental defenders

‘Living under this constant threat’: Environmental defenders face a mounting mental health crisis

Environmental activists are struggling with paranoia, panic attacks, and depression. Now, a growing network of mental health shelters in South America hopes to fill a void in care.

fracking opposition

Opposing fracking cost one Colombian activist her mental health. She’s fighting to win it back.

"At some point, they will kill you and kill all of us," environmental leader Yuvelis Natalia Morales Blanco was told.

Stay informed: sign up for The Daily Climate newsletter
Top news on climate impacts, solutions, politics, drivers. Delivered to your inbox week days.