In this article, we’ll provide an overview of AB 1305, its importance, and how companies can ensure compliance.

Comply With AB 1305: Bill & Disclosures

Several states within the U.S. aren’t waiting on national environmental legislation to battle the current climate emergency, such as New York and California. 

California has always been a leader in many ways, for its globally renowned fiscal status landing a spot as the fifth largest economy in the world and in terms of combating climate change – having developed a set of statewide climate legislation before many other states and even countries back in September 2022. 

Now, California is back at it again with AB 1305 – a new bill and disclosure aimed at regulating the amount of carbon offsets purchased by companies within the state to avoid trying to compensate for excess emissions. 

AB 1305, a bill and disclosure in California, refers to how companies are regulated in terms of marketing, selling, and purchasing voluntary carbon offsets for businesses within the state.

💡 AB 1305 is commonly referred to as the Voluntary Carbon Market Disclosures Act (VCMDA) just as voluntary carbon offsets are often referred to as VCOs.

California's Assembly Bill 1305 (AB 1305) is meant to help companies to practice transparency and take accountability within the voluntary carbon offset market.

AB 1305 has been receiving a lot of attention from media and businesses, but there remains a lot of ambiguity around the bill. The bill is only about two and a half pages long, leaving many questions up for interpretation.

Learn more about the AB 1305 at https://climatevault.com/ab1305/

Understanding AB 1305 | Vault Forward | Climate Vault

Developed for the state of California, AB 1305 requires businesses in the state that engage with the market for voluntary carbon offsets (VCOs) to publicly disclose details regarding their current offset projects. 

Under AB 1305, it is imperative that these disclosures are made publicly available on the organization’s website and that it is updated every year in line with the annual disclosure date for AB 1305 – January 1st.

The main requirements businesses must follow under AB 1305 include:

Providing Details on the Carbon Offset Project – Companies required to comply with AB 1305 must provide ample Information regarding the nature of their carbon offset project – such as the timeline, type of offset, and location in which the project takes place. 

Verified Status – Companies must demonstrate that the offset project has been verified by a third party. If available, companies should also provide the project identification number and the name of the party selling the offset program, such as California’s Cap-and-Trade Program which is administered by the California Air Resources Board (CARB).

Demonstrate Accountability – Companies should reveal any measures taken to combat potential setbacks to the project itself in addition to the efforts the company made to reduce their own emissions, but fell short – and therefore referred to the use of a carbon offset project. This helps companies to take accountability for their individual failure to meet their emission reduction targets, and reassess the steps that can be taken to ensure those goals are met in the future.

Ensure Accuracy – Any organization claiming that the offset helped them to achieve carbon neutrality or net-zero emissions must disclose the legitimacy of these labels via verified third party information.

👉 Overall, AB 1305 is a bill and disclosure in California that is aimed to ensure businesses across the state take accountability for the impact of their activities on the environment and do not loosely rely on or refer to the use of voluntary carbon offsets.

AB 1305 started as a result of newfound concern regarding the voluntary carbon market, and was developed in hopes of helping to regulate much of the activity that has occurred undisclosed thus far. 

💡 A good example of this is with Delta, who was accused of selling low-quality carbon credits – confirmed skeptics’ criticism of the voluntary market and how it may allow for some companies to seem more eco-friendly than they actually are. 

As a result, greenwashing allegations such as these fueled the need for greater transparency and accountability when it came to companies seeking out the use of carbon credits or carbon offset projects to aid in their emission reduction efforts.

More specifically, California has always paved the way for more stringent climate legislation – having passed the California Climate Accountability Package which includes SB253, SB261, and SB252.

👉 Ultimately, by requiring companies to provide greater detail regarding their involvement with the voluntary carbon market, AB 1305 can help companies from broadcasting false environmental claims and ensure that businesses use the highest-quality offsets possible to support their already-existing emission reduction strategies.

The table below will further explain the the timeline for AB 1305, SB253, and and SB261.

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            <th>Legislation</th>
            <th>Effective Date</th>
            <th>Key Compliance Requirements</th>
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        <tr>
            <td>AB 1305</td>
            <td>January 1, 2024 (enforcement begins January 1, 2025)</td>
            <td>Requires businesses selling or marketing voluntary carbon offsets to disclose details about their offset projects, including third-party verification and updates on claims like carbon neutrality.</td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
            <td>SB 253</td>
            <td>January 1, 2026</td>
            <td>Large corporations must publicly report their Scope 1, 2, and 3 greenhouse gas emissions annually, with mandatory assurance and verification starting in 2027.</td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
            <td>SB 261</td>
            <td>January 1, 2024</td>
            <td>Companies with over $500 million in annual revenue must disclose climate-related financial risk reports starting in 2024, including strategies to mitigate those risks.</td>
        </tr>
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The main goal of AB 1305 is to require companies across California to justify their ecological promises and verify their sustainability claims. 

💡 Usually, many people will fall guilty to believing that any company or individual that refers to the voluntary carbon offset market is simply reducing the rest of the emissions they were unable to on their own – but this simply isn’t the case. AB 1305 will help hold companies accountable for their true environmental efforts and decrease dependency on carbon offsets and credits.

AB 1305 is important because it will require companies to be transparent regarding not only their actions with the voluntary carbon market, but also with their own efforts to reduce emissions and demonstrate environmental commitment.

A perfect example is with Taylor Swift and her private jet, which garnered unwavering media attention in the midst of her globally successful Eras Tour. Many people presumed that since Swift was reported to have purchased carbon credits to offset the emissions of her tour, it meant the excess emissions from her private jet were compensated for – but in reality, this isn’t the case.

This is because it is often difficult to ensure if the carbon credits or carbon offsets purchased meet the relevant criteria, in this case – Swift’s excessive air travel. AB 1305 will attempt to accomplish the same motif by verifying the extent in which companies engage with the voluntary carbon market. 

Here are some other reasons why AB 1305 is important:


Address Criticism of Voluntary Carbon Market – Many critics refer to the current set of the of voluntary carbon market as flawed, but a bill and disclosure such as AB 1305 can help to prevent companies from using carbon credits and offsets to brag about their commitment to environmental reform. 

Reduce False Net-Zero Claims – It’s easy to subscribe to the notion of carbon credits and believe it balances everything out, but this isn’t the case – in the same way that eating a whole cake and then going to the gym for 3 hours doesn’t make you a healthy person. AB 1305 will play a role in helping to reduce false claims on behalf of companies too lazy to develop a robust climate strategy. 

Greater Trust & Accountability – Standardized disclosures such as AB 1305 can help businesses to improve communication with their stakeholders and gain credibility for future partnered projects. In addition to this, companies will be forced to re-evaluate their current emission reduction strategies.

Provide Consumers with More Information – The public disclosures required under AB 1305 will help customers to better understand the true sustainability of the company in question via the use of reliable data required under the law.


👉 Companies subject to report under AB 1305 will need to validate their engagement with the voluntary carbon market, which in turn – will provide indispensable information regarding a company’s environmental integrity and prevent potential greenwashing behavior from being swept under the rug.

Technically, AB 1305 went into effect on January 1, 2024 – but all businesses within the state will be expected to comply one year later on January 1, 2025.

💡 Although AB 1305 already went into effect at the start of 2024, the bill never specified which date the first set of disclosure should be made. This was later clarified by Jesse Gabriel, who served as an assembly member for AB 1305 – who then confirmed the first disclosures should take place on January 1, 2025 and every year after that. 

However, it is important to remember that AB 1305 is already in effect – meaning that businesses that fail to comply may face legal fines up to $2,500 per day for non-compliance if they do not take the steps to comply by the time enforcement kicks in at the start of 2025.

👉 Therefore, it is important for companies that have yet to take action to ensure compliance with AB 1305 act sooner than later – as the deadline for the first annual disclosure under AB 1305 is fast approaching.

Businesses in California can start preparing to comply with AB 1305 by taking note of the current carbon credits they have purchased or carbon offsets they have used. 

Prior to publicly disclosing information about their activity in the voluntary carbon market, companies should review all of their current marketing campaigns in search for potential claims that could be considered as greenwashing – and adjust them accordingly with information that can be backed up under AB 1305 and other future required disclosures.

Here are some of the ways that companies in California can make sure they comply with AB 1305:

Refresh Your Knowledge of the Law – California may be a standout for its progressive climate legislation, such as by working to ban the sale of new electric vehicles by 2035 – but it also means businesses across the state will have a lot to remember. Therefore, refreshing your company’s knowledge of current protocols in California could be worthwhile before trying to tackle compliance under AB 1305.

Strengthen Internal Communication – Letting your employees and internal stakeholders know the ins-and-outs of AB 1305 can help to make sure everyone does their part to make sure the disclosure is precise and on-time.

Improve Data Collection – Not only can this help your company to improve upon other areas such as collecting information from suppliers and develop a more advanced carbon emission reduction plan, but it can help to gather all the details needed to comply with AB 1305. 

Make Claims More Carefully – If your company wants to constitute itself as carbon neutral or net-zero, you’ll need clear documentation on how your company measures, monitors, and manages your progress on your individual goals in addition to your carbon offset projects.

Assign Clear Roles Within the Company – Letting everyone within your organization know now what they are responsible for, such as to collect the appropriate data or to update the website – you can avoid late compliance fines under AB 1305.

👉 Overall, AB 1305 is aimed to encourage companies to take a look at their current carbon emission reduction schemes – and make sure those who want to label themselves as a carbon neutral or net-zero company have earned it.

If reading this article about bill AB 1305 has made you interested in reducing your carbon emissions to further fight against climate change – Greenly can help you!

Trying to switch your company over to the values of a green business can be overwhelming, but don’t worry – Greenly is here to help. Click here to schedule a demo to see how Greenly can help you find ways to improve energy efficiency and decrease the dependency on fossil fuels in your own company. 

Greenly can help you make an environmental change for the better, starting with a carbon footprint assessment to know how much carbon emissions your company produces.
Click here to learn more about Greenly and how we can help you reduce your carbon footprint.

In this article, we’ll give a breakdown of the campaigns for the 2024 presidential candidates (Trump vs. Harris) – and an overview of their climate policy.

2024 Presidential Election: Candidates, Programs and Arguments

The 2024 presidential election is looming near, but in the midst of all the chaotic GOP debates and incessant media headlines – it can prove difficult to get a good grasp on the values of each candidate.  

However, there’s no need to worry – because we’ve created a comprehensive guide on each candidate with an overview of their general program, and in depth analysis of their environmental programs. 


👉 In this article, we’ll give a breakdown of the campaigns for the two main 2024 presidential candidates, Trump vs. Harris – and an overview of their climate policy.

Why is the 2024 presidential election a big deal?

The 2024 presidential election is set to be one of the most interesting U.S. presidential elections in history for a multitude of reasons.

First off, current Vice President Kamala Harris is set to battle for the presidential title against Trump in the midst of his several scandals and indictments. This has not only Americans on the edge of their seat, but the rest of the world.

Donald Trump is widely expected to win the Republican nomination again. This means that a former president could be running against an incumbent president in 2024. That hasn't happened for many years. NBC Presidential Historian Michael Beschloss runs through this election's high stakes with American Voices host Alicia Menendez.

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#election #voting #politics

The historic nature of the 2024 presidential election

However, more importantly, there are a plethora of serious issues swarming the country – such as abortion laws, gun violence, healthcare, inflation, and climate change.

Therefore, the 2024 presidential election is coming at a time where the potential policies and strategies proposed will have a huge impact on pivotal backbones for the country – such as handling the country’s economic recovery following the COVID-19 pandemic and inflation.

👉 The two main opponents for the 2024 election will be Kamala Harris and Donald Trump.

How does the U.S. Presidential Election Work?

For those who live outside of the United States, and even Americans themselves – the process for how a president is elected can prove complicated.

Luckily, we’ve broken down the process to make it easier to understand how the U.S. Presidential Election works.

This refers to when political parties select their nominees, which often include current state governors, senators, or other important figures in their respective political party. 

Caucuses, or meetings where these political members discuss their preferred candidates at length. After this, primaries are held – which is where party members within the state will vote for their preferred candidate. 

Following the first step, which is much like choosing a few potential outfits to wear to an event – each party holds a National Convention to choose their nominee. 

After this, the chosen nominee will be able to choose their running mate for Vice President – who can sometimes be another candidate who was running for the nomination themselves or another well-known political figure. 

Think of a big name artist like Taylor Swift choosing her opening acts for her Eras Tour. Once the opening acts have been chosen, they join her on her tour bus (or in her case, her private jet) to travel the world and play music together. 

The same goes for the nominees. Once they are selected, they essentially go “on tour” across the country to promote their campaign and values in the same way a musical artist goes on tour to promote their music. 

💡This can involve posting on social media, holding rallies, and engaging in political debates.

The Popular Vote vs. The Electoral College

Here is where it gets confusing for Americans and non-Americans alike. 

The popular vote refers to election day where voters across the U.S. will head to the ballot box to cast their vote. Whoever gets the most votes is considered the winner of the popular vote, which is how most elections are dedicated around the world.

Think of sitting in a meeting, and you and your colleagues take a vote on something. Usually, the decision is made based on the vast majority – or the choice that garnered the most hand raises, “no”, or “yes” as a response.

However, when it comes to the U.S. elections – it doesn’t work that way. A perfect example of this is back in 2016 when Hilary Clinton won the popular vote, meaning that more Americans voted for her over Donald Trump.

Regardless, Trump won the 270 electoral votes needed to win the presidency – which is why he was ultimately inaugurated into office over Hilary Clinton.  

The electoral vote refers to the Electoral College system to officially elect the President – which utilizes the method of each state being represented by a number of electors, otherwise known as senators and representatives. 

Some states across the country are worth very few electoral votes, such as Idaho, Wyoming, Hawaii, Delaware, and Montana. 

On the contrary, some states are worth a massive amount of electoral votes – such as Texas, California, Florida, and Ohio. Some of these states, such as California, are almost always voted blue – making them an easy win for the Democratic party. The same goes for certain states for the Republican party. 

However, some states have a huge sway in the electoral process – otherwise known as “swing states”. They are referred to as swing states seeing as they have the potential to swing an election, and the color of the states (meaning the chosen party) is bound to change with each election.

👉 Presidents need 270 electoral votes to win. This is why presidents often campaign in swing states, as it is important to sway these populations to vote specifically red or blue in order for the president to win the electoral vote.

After all is said and done and a president is elected, they are sworn into office on January 20th of the year following the election.

Past Candidates for 2024 Presidential Election

Prior to Kamala Harris and Donald Trump being selected as the Democratic and Republican nominees, other candidates for the 2024 presidential election included Ron DeSantis, Joe Biden Marianne Williamson, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Mike Pence, Nikki Hayley, Vivek Ramsey, Tom Scott, Chris Christie, Doug Burgam, and more. 

Here is a table summarizing the previous 2024 presidential candidates:

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    <h1>2024 USA Presidential Candidates Summary</h1>
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                <th>Candidate</th>
                <th>Party</th>
                <th>Summary</th>
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                <td>Joe Biden</td>
                <td>Democrat</td>
                <td>The current president who was initially seeking a second term. His focuses include climate change, healthcare, and bipartisan policies, but faces criticism for age and environmental policies.</td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
                <td>Marianne Williamson</td>
                <td>Democrat</td>
                <td>Advocates for reparations, universal healthcare, and climate action. Known for spiritual work with Oprah and her progressive platform.</td>
            </tr>
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                <td>Robert F. Kennedy Jr.</td>
                <td>Democrat</td>
                <td>Anti-corporate power campaigner with a focus on conspiracy theories. Criticized for anti-vaccine stance but has strong environmental values.</td>
            </tr>
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                <td>Donald Trump</td>
                <td>Republican</td>
                <td>Former president running again, known for controversial policies, especially regarding climate change and economic recovery.</td>
            </tr>
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                <td>Mike Pence</td>
                <td>Republican</td>
                <td>Former Vice President, focuses on Christian values and anti-abortion policies, and often downplays the climate crisis.</td>
            </tr>
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                <td>Ron DeSantis</td>
                <td>Republican</td>
                <td>Florida Governor known for controversial policies such as blocking books and being against LGBTQ+ policies, with his climate change efforts focus on adaptation rather than prevention.</td>
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                <td>Nikki Haley</td>
                <td>Republican</td>
                <td>Former South Carolina Governor who is more moderate than her other Republican counterparts on some issues, but still prioritizes economy over aggressive climate action.</td>
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                <td>Vivek Ramaswamy</td>
                <td>Republican</td>
                <td>Young entrepreneur who dismisses climate agenda as a "hoax" and focuses on economic growth and strict immigration policies.</td>
            </tr>
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                <td>Perry Johnson</td>
                <td>Republican</td>
                <td>Businessman with a focus on fiscal policies, climate policy includes support for renewable energy but opposes Biden's regulations.</td>
            </tr>
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                <td>Asa Hutchinson</td>
                <td>Republican</td>
                <td>Former Arkansas Governor, critical of Trump, supports limited clean energy investments but not aggressive climate actions.</td>
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                <td>Larry Elder</td>
                <td>Republican</td>
                <td>Conservative radio host, focuses on crime, border control, and dismisses climate change as a significant concern.</td>
            </tr>
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                <td>Ryan Binkley</td>
                <td>Republican</td>
                <td>Pastor and business leader, advocates for energy independence and investing in climate technology.</td>
            </tr>
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                <td>Tim Scott</td>
                <td>Republican</td>
                <td>South Carolina Senator focused on immigration and border security. Dismissive of aggressive climate policies.</td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
                <td>Chris Christie</td>
                <td>Republican</td>
                <td>Former New Jersey Governor, acknowledges climate science but prioritizes economic and international issues like China.</td>
            </tr>
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                <td>Doug Burgum</td>
                <td>Republican</td>
                <td>North Dakota Governor, supports energy independence with unclear positions on climate action.</td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
                <td>Will Hurd</td>
                <td>Republican</td>
                <td>Former CIA officer, moderate on various issues, acknowledges climate change but lacks detailed policy proposals.</td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
                <td>Cornel West</td>
                <td>Third Party</td>
                <td>Progressive activist and Green Party candidate, focuses on social justice, labor rights, and climate change.</td>
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👉 As of summer 2024, the official nominees for the Democratic and Republican party respectively are Kamala Harris and Donald Trump.

Excitement has been circulating across the country and the democratic party since Harris has been supported by several leading figures in the democratic party such as the Obamas, Pete Buttigieg, John Kerry, Bill and Hilary Clinton, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, California's governor Gavin Newsom

Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, sit down for a conversation about their historic campaign. They talk taco recipes, hot peppers, their childhoods, careers, and the rights and freedoms they want to protect. 

Tune in Thursday, August 15.

--------------------------------------
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#KamalaHarris #Harris2024

Kamala Harris and Tim Walz on tacos, music, and the future of America

Harris would break several records if she were to be inaugurated into office in January 2025:

Harris would be the first female president in U.S. history

Harris would be the first Vice President to succeed directly from the previous president for a reason besides unforeseen death or resignation

Harris would be the first female and Black-American president

Harris would become the first president of Asian-American descent

Harris would become the first president to directly represent the Indian American community

💡After much speculation, it was announced that Tim Waltz had accepted the VP nomination to run alongside Harris in the 2024 Presidential Election.

As Harris has spent the past few weeks campaigning across battleground states, specifically making an attempt to resonate with the middle class – we’ve come to learn some of her main goals if she were elected as president in November 2024.

Mitigate Gun Violence – A long standing issue in the U.S., Kamala Harris has made clear her plans to ban assault rifles across the country by requiring background checks and a nationwide ban on assault weapons. 

Strengthen the Middle Class – The opposite of Trump’s approach to the economy, Kamala Harris has made clear her desire to help the middle class be strong to ensure small businesses and minorities are receiving fair pay and equal opportunities and treatment across the nation.

Civil Equality – Referring to her work as a prosecutor in the 90s, Harris is seeking criminal justice reform as an attempt to address systemic racism and ensure DEI policies are well implemented.

Ensure Women’s Health Rights – Harris has repeated across social media and speeches her intentions to restore reproductive rights and freedom for women in the United States.

Fair Healthcare – Harris has mentioned the Affordable Care Act several times throughout her campaign, especially during her presidential campaign back in 2020.

Climate Change – Harris is in support of renewable energy and work to help vulnerable communities affected by climate change.

Immigration Reform – Harris is determined to ensure DACA holders have a safe residency in the U.S. and employing more humane immigration policies. 


👉 It is important to remember that prior to Kamala Harris being elected as the democratic nominee, Joe Biden was the presumed nominee for the democratic party before he chose to step down for the sake of the country’s upcoming election.

The infamous Trump has decided to run again for the 2024 presidential election after having lost to Biden in 2020, and despite his recent indictment in Atlanta – the polls reveal that he has a high chance of winning the Republican nomination.

His previous presidency is perhaps the most controversial one in American history – having pulled the country from the Paris Agreement claiming climate change to be a hoax, obliterated the Affordable Care Act implemented by Obama, and vetoed student loan forgiveness.'

Oddly, Trump supported the return of the abortion pill in the June 2024 presidential debate.

👉 As of March 2024, Trump's name is set to be on the ballot across all states despite his current indictments – with the U.S. supreme court having overturned several state's efforts to remove his name from the ballot.

In June 2024, following the first presidential election – Trump was leading in the polls ahead of Biden.

However, tensions rose once again after an attempted assassination in July 2024 by 20-year-old Matthew Crooks during a rally in Pennsylvania. Trump was left grazed by a bullet on his ear, and escorted by the secret service shortly after – but at least one person lost their life and a few remain critically injured. As a result, the U.S. has once again evaluated the growing, deep divide between the nation and its two political parties.

Former President Trump: "In order to make America great and glorious again, I am tonight announcing my candidacy for president of the United States."

Full video here: https://www.c-span.org/video/?524197-1/fmr-president-trump-makes-campaign-announcement-mar-lago

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Former President Trump Announces 2024 Presidential Campaign

As for Trump’s climate policy, it has always been on the back burner as opposed to the economy – such as by refusing to improve the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NASSQS) and replacing the Clean Power Plan with a less effective form of regulation. 

👉 Many believe that Trump’s actions while in office may have created insufferable consequences for the ongoing fight against climate change – seeing as he rolled back over 100 different environmental regulations.

Even if Trump has a change of heart and begins to acknowledge climate change, it is probable that he will continue to prioritize creating jobs to focus on economic recovery. 

September 2024 Trump vs. Harris Debate Recap

The much awaited debate between Harris and Trump allowed the two candidates to further explain their stance on several issues regarding the country, such as how they would handle the Israel Hamas War, Oil Fracking, Ukraine and Russia, healthcare, and more.

During the presidential debate hosted by ABC News, Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump were pressed on several controversial moments during each of their time in office including January 6 and the withdrawal from Afghanistan. Catch up on CNN’s coverage and analysis:

0:00-0:20
Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump meet for the first time on the debate stage.

0:20-5:23
Vice President Kamala Harris is asked why some of her policy positions have changed since her 2019 presidential run.

5:23-11:52
Former President Donald Trump is asked whether he regrets anything about January 6.

11:52-15:46
Vice President Kamala Harris is asked about the US’ controversial withdrawal from Afghanistan.

15:46-18:55
CNN Senior Reporter Daniel Dale fact checks the debate and calls Donald Trump’s performance “staggeringly dishonest.”

18:55-25:45
CNN Political Director David Chalian shares the results from an instant poll on who viewers felt won the debate. CNN’s Jake Tapper and his panel of political experts discuss.#CNN #news 

Want to stay up to date on the day’s top stories? Sign up for CNN’s 5 Things newsletter, and we’ll give you the 5 biggest stories you need to know, videos people are watching, and more!
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Must-watch moments and analysis of Trump and Harris’s first presidential debate

Here’s a recap of the topics discussed during the September 10th, 2024 presidential debate:                        

Women’s Rights – Harris reiterated majority of women in the U.S. want reproductive rights – and Trump claimed he wouldn’t sign a national abortion ban and hasn’t discussed it with his Vice President JD Vance. On this note, Harris warned Americans on Project 2025 and provided a compelling an anecdote of a young woman needing to travel on a plane for an abortion – then referring to Trump how he is making it difficult and expensive for women in the U.S.to take care of themselves.

Immigration – Trump pontificated how millions of illegal citizens crossed the border under the Biden-Harris administration, and that it is one of his priorities to evacuate all “aliens” from the country. Trump also made the now infamous comment that immigrants are eating pets, though NPR later fact checked this to be false. The debate also brought up the issue of immigration reaching an all time high from Central America from border – where Harris refuted that Trump’s immigration policy was deplorable and that his previous administration spoke ill of him. 

💡 Ultimately, Harris largely avoided the question – leaving her views on how to handle border control moving forward vague.

“Now she wants to do transgender operations on illegal aliens in prison.” – Trump says of Harris on immigration, who he claimed to be a radical level president.”

Inflation – The two presidents discussed grocery prices, and Trump blamed the Biden Harris administration on the state of economy – citing classic American foods such as bacon and cereal that Trump wants to ensure people can afford. Harris retorted with the notion that Trump isn’t there to help the middle class, but to provide tax breaks for the wealthy. 

Oil Fracking – Harris claimed she will not ban fracking, and explained how she was the tie breaking vote on Inflation Reduction Act which discussed new leases for fracking. Instead of banning oil fracking, Harris illustrated the importance of investing in diverse sources of energy as the U.S. has the largest production in domestic oil production in history. In short, Harris’s approach to oil fracking is in the same vein as someone trying to diversify their diet to be healthier, but not cut out sugar entirely.

💡 At this point in the debate, Kamala discussed her values again protecting social security and medicare, protect seniors from scams – Trump refuted that she’s been against oil fracking for 12 years.

“A president who actually brings values and perspective that is about lifting people up, and not beating people down. The true measure of a leader is the leader that actually understands that strength is not in beating people down, it’s in lifting people up – and I intend to be that president.” – Kamala Harris” 

👉 Even Taylor Swift endorsed Harris last night following the debate, after much controversy with fellow NFL wife Brittney Homes supporting Trump, Trump thanking the Mahomes, and Trump developing false AI pictures of Swift’s endorsement. In true millennial fashion, Swift signed her endorsement statement as a, “childless cat lady” – as a callback to the backlash Trump’s VP J.D. Vance has received in light of recent commentary regarding single, childless women in the United States.

The September 2024 presidential debate then delved into more specific, current issues – such as storming the Capital Building in 2021, Trump’s indictment, and the Israel Hamas War. 


Here’s a recap of the other topics discussed during the September 2024 presidential debate:

Storming the Capital Building January 6th

Trump stated during the debate that he regrets nothing, whereas Harris claims it to have been a “violent mob” provoked by the resident himself– and reiterated that he has been indicted and attempted to be impeached. 

Perpetuating anti semitic hate, Harris reminded everyone that Trump said, “there were fine people on each side” – before stating that she wants “turn the page” and not have Americans hold anymore stigmas towards respect for one another, and creating a more supportive community for all people of color.

Trump was in disbelief of his own previous tweets when he lost reelection in 2020, quipping, “I said that?” – and re-framing his old statements such as, “he lost by a whisker” as sarcasm.

The previous president also claimed his 75 million popular votes should have granted him reelection. Trump then reiterated the need for borders and good elections, going as far as to insult illegal immigrants by shaming them for not speaking English or “not even knowing what country they’re in.” 

Harris then retorted that he was “fired by 81 million people” and that it is clear “he is having a hard time processing this.” 

Harris breaks down how she would get through the person holding the remaining 100 hostages, and also stated her belief that Israel has a right to defend itself – but claims the war must end, and the way will be with a ceasefire deal. She agrees to work around the clock for, as she emphasized, a two state solution to provide security for the Israelis and equal measure for the Palestinians. 

💡In addition to this, Harris wants to help rebuild Gaza, ensure Palenstine’s security, and help them keep their dignity.

Trump says he would negotiate with the Israeli president, but then jumps to the Ukraine and Russia conflict, failing to answer the question at hand – as he states the war would’ve never started as Russia would’ve never gone into Ukraine and killed millions of people. Trump also claimed that Harris “hates Israel” and wouldn’t meet Netanyahu and that she hates the Arab population. 

Overall, Trump spoke about the Middle East as a whole – stating he’ll get “that”, in addition to the Russia and Ukraine conflict, settled fast before he becomes president– but doesn’t explain how he’ll accomplish this.

Harris retorts that he is weak and wrong on national security, and claims that he is a dictator who worships national leaders that exhibit this same behavior.

“They can manipulate you with flattery and favors.” – Harris on Trump’s inability to properly reason or converse with other national leaders.”

“That is a war dying to be settled.” – Trump on the Ukraine and Russia conflict, claiming his close relationship with Putin despite his recent announcement hoping that Harris will win the election.”

Trump claims we’re playing with World War 3, but doesn’t talk about the Israel/Hamas war – stressing how it is in the best interest of the U.S. to “get this thing done” on Ukraine and Russia.

Harris says she met with Zelenskyy (claims she has met with him over 5 times, contrary to Trump’s comments) a few days before Russia invaded to discuss sovereignty and integrity. In fact, Harris shares that she provided information from U.S. intelligence to help him and his country defend themselves. 

Harris then claims Trumps would give up for what he thinks is a “friendship” who would “eat Trump for lunch.” Trump simply reiterates that the war should’ve never started, and doesn’t explain how he would help end the conflict – and simply blames Harris as one of “the worst negotiators”.

When Harris is questioned on her responsibility for the withdrawal of soldiers who died – she agrees with Biden’s choice to pull out, praising him for being the first of 4 presidents to act on it. 

She then claims Trump negotiated one of the weakest terrible deals by bypassing the Afghanistan government, how he worked with Taliban terrorists which resulted in 5,000 of them being released, and then criticized Trump for having invited Taliban to Camp David – where Americans honor the importance of U.S. diplomacy. 

👉 This was a rare moment in this debate where Harris leads with Trump's mistakes instead of her own approach or directly answering the question.

Trump answered that the Taliban was killing soldiers and he got involved as they were doing the killing. He then praised his own threatening abilities, citing that he told him, “Stop, or you’ll have issues” – sending a picture of his house as an ultimatum. Trump claims this tactic helped to avoid more casualties and 85 billion dollars of new military equipment for the US.

Trump claims he doesn’t care about Harris’s ethnicity– despite his previous comments. Harris then claims it’s a “tragedy” that someone who wants to be president has previously used the color of people’s skin to divide the American people.

Harris refers to Trump calling for execution for the Central Park 5 Boys to be executed and who spread misinformation on Obama to reiterate that Americans don’t want a leader that encourages people to “point the other finger” at one another. 

💡 Essentially, she stresses that the strong divide in the country would not only continue – but worsen under a second Trump term.

“What I do offer, is a new generation of leadership for our country.” – Kamala Harris”

Harris used this moment in the debate to share some of tangible goals to be implemented:

A $50,000 tax deduction for small businesses

A $6,000 stipend for struggling families for first year of child’s life

A $25,000 down payment assistance for first time home buyers

Trump simply answered once more that the Biden Harris administration destroyed the country, and circled back to the economy to ignore the original question on ethnicity.

Trump claimed Obama care was “lousy”, but reiterates he is “working on something” but doesn’t provide any details on how he would improve the current healthcare crisis or system in the country.

Harris stated her support for the choice for private healthcare, but wants to strengthen the Affordable Care Act. At this juncture, she reminded Americans to look at history to see where Trump stands on healthcare– further explaining how she will help all people to bring the value of fair access to healthcare, and not making it a privilege the way Trump intends to do so.

Trump retorts that Harris wants people to be on a waiting list for 6 months for a necessary operation before being interrupted by the organizers conducting the debate.

Though brief, it is worth mentioning that Harris retorts to Trump by revealing that both she and Waltz are gun owners and that she’s not trying to take anyone’s guns away, telling Trump to “stop lying” on their stance on this issue.

Harris and Waltz have made clear their intent to tackle gun violence in the country by working to ban assault rifles and ensuring more thorough background checks.

Harris would not follow Trump’s “hoax” claim, explains home insurance issues, victims of losing their home such as having occurred with the Hawaii wildfires, and young people caring about this issue – Harris is proud of the trillion dollar investment in clean economy, but also their efforts to increase domestic gas production and create job opportunities. 

💡 It’s likely that Harris took this stance to adhere to voters who value both the economy or climate change.

Trump talks about the massive plants being made, doesn’t say anything about how he would tackle climate change – simply prioritizes the economy once more. At the end of his response, Trump states that the U.S. can’t sacrifice our country to invest in more sustainable sources of energy because “we’re not ready for it” – comparing the US to Germany.


Harris wants people to “not go back” and explains that to achieve the American dream, we need a plan – and that she intends intends to create an opportunity economy, small businesses, help families protect seniors, and give hard workers in the U.S. a break from the high cost of living to help Americans across the country live more comfortably.

She also summarizes her values on respecting the military, protecting women’s reproductive rights, and making the right investments today to build a stronger country tomorrow.

Trump retorted that Harris hasn’t done any of the things she just listed, such as failing to create jobs or fix the border. He didn’t provide a mission statement for his presidency, choosing to cite Harris’s failure to encourage oil fracking and to not prioritize the economy. 

He also reiterated his stance on the wars, stresses his passion for getting rid of immigrants, and speaks about rebuilding the military – but again, doesn’t discuss his intent as a president in the future.

The two vice presidents had a debate on October 1st, 2024 – here's a recap of the events discussed during the debate:

Vance avoided discussing the topic of January 6th when the capital building was stormed

Vance stated he supports clean air & clean water, but stated he isn't concerned about carbon emissions

The impact of Hurricane Helene was discussed 

Walz stated that reducing our environmental impact as a nation is critical and that jobs can be created at the same time without forsaking the conomy

The two men disagreed on their views on immigration, each siding with their presidential running mate

Ultimately, the vice presidential debate was well received by many – as viewers commended the men's ability to stay political, respectful, and refrain from name calling.

👉 Tim Walz is set to ramp up his media appearances following the debate in addition to a bus tour to further promote the Harris-Walz campaign.

How do Trump and Harris Differ on Climate Change?

Trump and Harris couldn’t be more different when it comes to their views on climate change and how they would incorporate environmental legislation into their policies if they were to be elected as president. 

Harris has still made it clear that she plans to support the fight against climate change in any way she can, whereas Trump has pontificated his values to build economic value for the country no matter the cost – even if it means making global warming worse than it already is today.

Here are some of the main differences between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump’s ecology policies:

I care about the environment not because I have any particular desire to hug a tree, but I have a strong desire to hug a healthy baby. – Kamala Harris.

Harris has discussed her climate policies, such as by ensuring the U.S. rejoins the Paris Climate Agreement, supporting the Green New Deal and various strategies to work towards net-zero greenhouse gas emissions, and investing in renewable forms of energy such as wind farms and solar panels to help drive down excess emissions.

💡 In addition to this, Harris plans to support the EPA in whatever resources they need to promote vital environmental protocols, engage in efforts to protect endangered wildlife, and reduce deforestation projects to ensure natural land is safeguarded. 

However, despite the hope & promise Harris embodies for millions of Americans to tackle the global threat of climate change (much of which is attributed by the United States itself) – Harris only briefly mentioned climate change at a recent Chicago convention. This has some concerned if Harris's promises regarding the environment are more for show than action. 

Unlike Kamala Harris, Trump has always been skeptical of the need to implement climate change policies – having infamously withdrew the United States from the Paris Agreement when he was president. 

Trump’s main values continue to center around economic growth and prosperity, such as by aiding the fossil fuel industry over climate change endeavors – allowing the production of coal, oil, and natural gas to take precedence over rising global temperatures.

In addition to this, Trump values job creation and cutting back on environmental regulations such as the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act – holding firm on the belief that investing elsewhere will prove more lucrative for the country moving forward.


👉 Ultimately, it is evident that Trump will continue to prioritize economic growth over climate change – whereas Harris plans to make the environment one of the focal points of her presidency.

Takeaway for the 2024 Presidential Election

Evidently, with a wide array of candidates – next year’s presidential election is going to be an engrossing event. 

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