Spanish-language ad hitting GOP for climate change denialism to run during debate

A Spanish-language ad slamming Republicans for their climate change denialism is set to run during, before and after Wednesday’s GOP presidential debate.

The ad will run exclusively on Univision, which will air the debate in Spanish. The Fox Business Network will air the debate in English.

Climate Power, the Democratic group responsible for the ad, bought Univision airtime for it in Phoenix, Tucson, Atlanta, Las Vegas, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C., all markets with significant Latino populations.

“Cuál es su plan climático?” — “What’s their climate plan?” — features clips from the first 2024 GOP primary debate, where businessman Vivek Ramaswamy emphatically declared “the climate change agenda is a hoax.”

Most of the Republicans in the second debate, to be held at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, Calif., are unlikely to sway from hard-line positions on the environment, as climate denialism has become a key topic for the GOP base.

U.S. Hispanic voters consistently cite the environment as a top issue, and a broad majority say climate change is a top or important issue.

A 2021 Pew Research survey found that 81 percent of Hispanic respondents said climate change is a top or significant issue, while 67 percent of non-Hispanic respondents said the same.

“Republicans are completely disconnected from the reality Latinos face every single day. Climate change is compromising our jobs, economic security, and health and we need answers instead of denialism,” said Antonieta Cadiz, deputy managing director of Climate Power En Acción.

“Instead of embracing solutions to the climate crisis, like the Clean Energy Plan, they want to reverse the progress we have made in favor of Big Oil corporate interests.”

Latinos are disproportionately affected by climate and other environmental issues, as a larger percentage tend to work outdoors or live in areas with higher pollution.

“Cuál es su plan climático?” will also air on Univision’s digital channels, as well as local newscasts and “Al Punto,” the network’s Sunday talk show hosted by Jorge Ramos.

—Updated at 1:14 p.m.