Strategic Focus: The Sustainability-Related Implications Of The 2024 Elections Go Well Beyond The Presidency

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Executive Summary

The 2024 US elections will profoundly impact all branches of the government, from the president down to state-led positions. Given the country’s polarized political landscape, many of these contests will significantly influence its approach to sustainability and climate-related issues. While the race between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris has garnered the most attention, other down-ballot elections – including for the US Senate and House of Representatives – will also have short-term and lasting impacts on sustainability-related issues. This report emphasizes the critical role the 2024 elections will play in shaping the US’s sustainability policies, as well as key considerations for US firms moving forward.

Table of contents

Summary for decision-makers
The 2024 US elections will have significant impacts on sustainability progress and climate action

All eyes are on the presidential election
Down-ballot elections could shift balance in Congress and at the state level
Elections will have lasting impacts on the judicial system
Firms should not abandon or dilute their sustainability programmes
 

Table of figures

Figure 1. Modifications to major sustainability-related legislation under the Trump-Pence and Biden-Harris administrations
Figure 2. Key sustainability-related Executive Orders issued by President Trump
Figure 3. Key sustainability-related Executive Orders issued by President Biden
Figure 4. How President Trump and Vice President Harris may act on certain sustainability-related issues
Figure 5. Where candidates in competitive congressional races fall on certain ESG topics
Figure 6. Key sustainability-related decisions made by the US Supreme Court, 2018-2024

About the authors

Jessica Pransky

Principal Analyst
Jessica is a Principal Analyst in the Verdantix ESG & Sustainability practice, which she joined in 2022. Her current research agenda covers ESG reporting and data management software, ESG solutions for investors, and risk in ESG and sustainability. Prior to joining Verdantix, Jessica worked at Ramboll, focusing on ESG risk and opportunity identification for mergers and acquisitions, as well as EHS due diligence. Jessica has previously held roles evaluating water resource allocation for a state municipality and ensuring EHS compliance for GE Aviation. She holds a BS from Tufts University and an MEng from Johns Hopkins University focused on environmental engineering, as well as an MBA from Boston University.

Kim Knickle

Research Director, ESG & Sustainability
Kimberly Knickle is Research Director of the ESG & Sustainability practice at Verdantix. Her research areas encompass ESG regulations and reporting, ESG risk, supply chain sustainability, circular economy, social impact, and sustainable finance. Kim has worked for more than 20 years in the IT industry, providing research and analysis to help companies invest wisely in new technologies. Before joining the analyst industry, she held various roles in IT services, engineering and product safety testing, beginning her career at Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. Kim holds an MBA from Boston University and a BS in Electrical Engineering from Cornell.

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