Climate among concerns for US voters

Climate change ranks as one of the key issues in the midterm elections, as more than half of registered US voters said it is one of the most important topics on the ballot.

At least 79 percent of Democrats said climate change is very important, compared with 46 percent of independents and 27 percent of Republicans, a Washington Post/ABC News poll found.

Democrats, who have controlled both chambers of Congress for two years, have several initiatives to combat climate change. One of the biggest is the Inflation Reduction Act. It passed in the Senate on Aug 7 and includes $370 billion in green incentives.

But climate campaigners warned that if power changes hands after Tuesday's election, and Republicans take control of the House, Senate or both, climate initiatives could be sidelined.

Republicans cannot overturn the law unless they have enough votes to override a veto by President Joe Biden. But they can stall its rollout.

The midterm elections in the United States will also determine governors in 36 states, and that could also affect climate initiatives depending on the results.

Over the past decade, the US and the rest of the world have seen an increase in natural disasters. This year, record-breaking natural disasters include Hurricane Ian in Florida, flooding in Kentucky and Missouri, and raging western wildfires.

'Present danger'

This summer, Biden described climate change as being "literally, not figuratively, a clear and present danger" in a speech in Somerset, Massachusetts. "The health of our citizens and our communities is literally at stake," he said.

But as climate campaigners in the US fight to have the use of fossil fuels reduced, US taxpayers are currently paying up to $15 billion in direct federal subsidies to the fossil fuel industry per year — something that Greenpeace and other organizations such as 350 Action want to end.

Climate change, however, is of less concern than the economy, abortion, crime and immigration, the Post poll found when it surveyed 1,006 adults between Sept 18 and 21.

Thanu Yakupitiyage, communications director at 350 Action, said she believes that the top issues are intertwined. The international organization mobilizes voters and works to elect politicians who believe in climate rights.

"If we want to deal with an economic crisis, you actually have to deal with climate change because of the cost it takes to rebuild from climate disasters," she said.

"If we do not do something about the climate crisis, we're looking at tens of billions, like trillions of dollars in repair, and that will ultimately affect the economy."