Republican vice-presidential nominee JD Vance was forced to cancel two campaign events in Georgia due to the threat posed by Hurricane Helene. The storm, which has surged across the Gulf of Mexico and hit Florida’s west coast as a category 4 storm, has caused widespread flooding and tornadoes are expected in Georgia as it sweeps inland. Vance, a climate change skeptic, faced ironic criticism as his canceled events were attributed to the consequences of global heating caused by human activity.
Campaigns for political candidates like Vance have been impacted by increasingly severe weather conditions worsened by the burning of fossil fuels. Extreme temperatures and storms have led to health risks for supporters attending events, prompting the need for infrastructure such as cooling stations. The climate crisis has made it harder to hold large outdoor gatherings due to the risks associated with heat stroke and other health concerns.
The Trump campaign, which has close ties to the oil and gas industry, has also been affected by extreme weather conditions at rallies. Despite Trump’s promises to roll back environmental regulations and cut spending on clean energy projects, his supporters have faced challenges due to scorching temperatures at rallies in states like Nevada and Arizona.
Critics have raised concerns about the potential impact of a future Trump administration on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and its National Weather Service, which provide essential weather information to the public. A right-wing manifesto called Project 2025, supported by some former Trump aides, seeks to commercialize these services, a move that experts warn could jeopardize vital weather warnings and emergency response efforts during extreme weather events.
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