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Grappling with Biden debate performance

To the Journal editor:

Disappointment and despair. These were my feelings when the June 27 presidential debate turned to the question of whether we are facing an existential climate crisis.

For me, as a Catholic, I agree with Pope Francis that the world is facing extreme weather change and a climate crisis that threatens “humanity’s existence.”

Francis writes that ignoring climate change will only heighten the crisis. The Holy Father has also leveled criticism on climate change deniers and delayers. (see Pope Francis’ Laudato si treatise on “care for our common home — 2015 and his Laudate Deum 2023).

Extreme weather change — even here in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula — should be obvious to all. Nationwide, nearly 90% of Americans faced an extreme weather event in the last 5 years. (Survey by the University of Chicago).

Unfortunately, former President Trump has been a climate change denier, calling climate crisis a “hoax” and during his administration he rolled back environmental restrictions on air and water contamination.

President Trump has also glorified coal and oil energy, bashed solar and wind energy with bogus talking points, and pulled the U.S. out or the Paris climate accord–accepted by more than 200 countries.

President Biden later restored the U.S. into the Paris Climate accord. In the June 27 debate, Donald Trump had the chance to announce a change of heart and express his understanding that humanity faces an existential climate crisis.

Instead, the former president dodged the issue–falsely claiming that he delivered “immaculate clean water and absolutely clean air.” I was so disappointed. But my disappointment turned into despair as President Biden failed to hold Mr. Trump accountable for his inaction and falsehoods on climate and missed the chance to point out how much President Biden has done to promote clean energy , especially the billions of clean energy funding under the Biden Inflation Reduction Act.

I hope that the voters of the Upper Peninsula will consider the climate crisis as a top issue in this year’s election.

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