“Talk tuah.” “Coconut tree.” “Climate change?” For many climate-minded voters, the 2024 election proved disappointing. Republicans held their typical relatively anti-climate views, and Democrats faltered on a platform of the environment in a fruitless attempt to gain working-class voters. For youth voters, the election was especially disappointing. In a world where adolescents are constantly reminded of the impending threat of climate change, it was painful to watch two candidates shy away and gloss over questions about the earth that we will inherit. According to a November Bark survey, 75 percent of students who followed the election believe climate change wasn’t stressed enough during the election campaign. While politicians do tend to shrug off discussion of important issues, the lack of deliberation given to climate change during the 2024 election was inexcusable. Politicians should focus more on climate as a campaign issue as it directly affects all areas of policy and will be the largest issue in the future.
It’s no secret that our earth’s resources are dwindling. It’s also no secret our world’s population has exploded. According to the National Library of Medicine, the world’s population grew by eight hundred million between 2010 and 2020—increasing the demand for raw materials. An increase in population and overcrowding combined with dwindling resources is an equation that needs confrontation. According to the United Nations, at least 40 percent of conflicts over the past 60 years have been over natural resources. Foreign policy is one of the most important priorities of leaders in today’s globalized world. If climate change is not addressed, foreign policy will become far more complex and conflict-ridden. In a global context, the United States is a peacekeeper with strong military funding. If conflict continues to spread over resources, such as arable land, due to climate change, the American taxpayer will likely have to pay to assist in yet another foreign conflict.
As the world’s population grows, so does competition for natural resources, leading many to migrate to areas with abundant natural resources. As the most prosperous country in the Americas, the United States has become a beacon for immigrants. One of the most prominent issues of the 2024 election was the influx of immigrants at the border and plans to deter and detain immigrants. Immigration will continue to grow with climate change; one World Bank estimate says that 216 million people may migrate due to climate change by 2050.
Climate change also heavily affects the economy. Natural disasters brought on by global warming cause shipping delays and manufacturing slowdowns, ultimately slowing the global economy. Delayed shipping caused by conflict over resources and natural phenomena leads to rising costs, which trickle down to the consumer. According to the United States Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service, America’s agricultural sector makes up 10.4 percent of employment in America. Natural disasters prompted by climate change, such as tornadoes and hurricanes, can wreak havoc on crops and other food staples. This will lead to a loss of jobs and employment in the agricultural sector, not only driving up employment rates but also driving up prices of goods for Americans.

From the beginning, Democrats had the cards stacked against them in the 2024 election. From Biden’s hesitancy to drop out of the race and plummeting approval of Harris’s hastily organized campaign, the 2024 Democratic campaign was something of a mess. While Democrats should have continued to run a competitive campaign, they could’ve also appealed to future voters by addressing the climate. Why not attempt to appeal to pro-climate voters? The illusion of a victory in 2024. I was personally shocked when Kamala Harris defended a pro-fracking stance, as fracking is environmentally disastrous and an unsustainable practice. While it does create jobs, it’s unlikely a future voter, who will suffer from the impacts of climate change, will be persuaded by Harris’s pro-fracking stance. Pro-environment voters will find themselves outsiders in their own party. To gain future voters, democrats could work to be more transparent with the state of the climate and their plans to take action against climate change. The reamplification of the Democratic party depends on the courting of young voters, many of whom are concerned about the climate. Without climate action, voters will look at alternate parties, such as the Green Party, drawing Democrats away based on one election and a hesitant stance.
The climate crisis isn’t going away, no matter how much politicians choose to neglect it. It is truly one of the only future-forward issues of the election, and Democrats lost an opportunity to take advantage of it as the self-described future-forward party. By focusing on climate change as an issue, a party can, whether it be in just a matter of years or decades, create a solid base built on the truth rather than dishonest practices like politicians are so regarded for.