"Fossil Fuel Money to GOP Grows, and So Does Climate Divide"

"The stark partisan divide underscores how much is riding on the November election for U.S. and global climate policy."

"Political polarization on climate change has become so stark this election cycle that researchers say the gulf between Republicans and Democrats is wider than they have seen in more than 20 years of polling. The polarization has an equally startling financial corollary: an overwhelming 91 percent of fossil fuel industry campaign donations now flow to Republican candidates and 9 percent to Democrats.

As recently as 2000, when George W. Bush faced Al Gore for the presidency, the pot of fossil fuel spending was split almost evenly, with  60 percent going to Republicans, 40 percent to Democrats.

The deepening  divide underscores how much of U.S. climate policy is riding on the November election. Donald Trump has promised to pull the country out of the Paris accord and Republican majorities in Congress are working to block environmental regulations. Hillary Clinton has vowed to support the global agreement to reduce carbon emissions and build on President Obama's climate initiatives."

Marianne Lavelle reports for InsideClimate News September 15, 2016.