Analysis: "Why Has Climate Change Been Ignored In US Election Debates?"

"While we rake over Clinton’s emails and Trump’s late-night tweets, climate has been the elephant in the room, leaving scientists and campaigners asking why there hasn’t been a single direct question about the crisis".

"Climate change has been the elephant in the room during the past two US presidential debates. Ignoring this issue would be more understandable if this metaphorical pachyderm weren’t about to rampage through the lives of Americans, causing upheaval on a scale not seen since the start of human civilization.

'I’ve been shocked at the lack of questions on climate change. It really is fiddling while the world burns,' said Kerry Emanuel, a leading climate scientist. 'This is the great issue of our time and we are skirting around it. I’m just baffled by it.'

Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton have yet to face a moderator question on climate change during two debates in which time was found to grill Clinton repeatedly over her use of emails and to ask Trump about a series of late-night tweets he sent about a former Miss Universe’s sex tape. Lester Holt, the moderator of the first debate, was reportedly set to ask a climate question but ran out of time."

Oliver Milman reports for the Guardian, October 19, 2016.

SEE ALSO:

Op-Ed: "The Debates Were a Failure of Journalism" (New York Times)

"Commentary: Shrinking Attention Spans And Journalistic Integrity On The Campaign Trail" (Environmental Health News)

"That's 4 Straight Debates Without A Single Question On Climate Change. Good Job, Everyone." (Vox)

"With Three Presidential Debates In The Can, The Loser Is…" (Discover)

"Climate Silence Goes Way Beyond Debate Moderators" (Dot Earth/NYT)

"The Climate Questions the Next President Should Answer" (Climate Central)

"‘Criminally Irresponsible’ Media Avoid Climate Debate Questions" (Think Progress)

"Donald Trump Didn't Face A Single Debate Question About Climate Change During His Candidacy" (Business Insider)

Editorial: "An Atmosphere of Neglect" (Baltimore Sun)

Op-Ed: "Missing From The Debates: Climate Change" (Boston Globe/Union of Concerned Scientists)

"As Warnings Build, Is There a ‘Spiral of Silence’ on Climate Change?" (Dot Earth/NYT)

 

Source: Guardian, 10/20/2016