The upcoming election between Donald Trump and Joe Biden could drastically alter the future of environmental, public health, and international scientific collaboration policies.
Jeff Tollefson, Natasha Gilbert, Max Kozlov, and Mariana Lenharo report for Nature.
In short:
- Trump and Biden offer starkly different visions for climate change action, with Trump aiming to roll back environmental regulations and Biden pushing for clean-energy innovation.
- Public health funding and policy approaches also divide the candidates, with Biden supporting increased funding for health research and Trump's history of attempting to cut it.
- Immigration and international collaboration could see changes, impacting scientists and research globally, with each candidate's policy having significant implications.
Key quote:
“It’s a trope to say that every election is critical, but this election is particularly stark in the two paths that it presents for the United States.”
— Alexander Barron, environmental scientist at Smith College
Why this matters:
This election's outcome could significantly influence the United States' approach to critical issues like climate change, public health, and international scientific collaboration. The direction taken not only affects the nation's health outcomes but also its position on the global stage in tackling some of today's most pressing challenges.
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