Two environmental groups recently released scorecards that grade members of Congress on their environmental voting record. On evaluations from both the League of Conservation Voters and the Defenders of Wildlife, the two Democratic U.S. senators. from Georgia – Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff – outperformed U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter (R-St. Simons), who serves Coastal Georgia.

Overall, Democrats scored higher than Republicans across the country on both scorecards. Reflecting the divided nature of national politics, most Republicans score 10% or less while most Democrats scored 90% or better on both reports.

The League of Conservation Voters’ 2024 scorecard scores individual members of the U.S. House and U.S. Senate based on their votes on bills the league deems important.  A dozen of the votes centered on proposed cuts to clean energy incentives; another 16 votes would have removed environmental protections.

Carter achieved a grade of 3%, voting in the “environmentally friendly” way on one of the 33 environmental bills the group examined in the House. That vote was “no” on legislation to stall domestic manufacturing of cleaner vehicles. Carter’s Congressional district hosts Hyundai’s massive electric vehicle factory in north Bryan County, hailed as the largest economic development project in Georgia’s history. 

Georgia’s senators received higher marks. Ossoff scored 100% on the eight environmental votes the league examined in the U.S. Senate last year. Sen. Raphael Warnock scored 88%. The one bill in which he failed to vote or get excused from voting was aimed at obstructing EPA’s cleaner cars rule.

Read more about the League of Conservation Voters’ Scorecard here.

Defenders of Wildlife’s 2024 Conservation Report Card reviews 15 House votes and four Senate votes that it deems as having “serious implications for wildlife, habitats and the environment.” The legislation included measures to weaken Clean Water Act protections and to reduce protections for an imperiled species of bat.

Carter made a 0% grade on this scorecard, never once voting in alignment with Defenders of Wildlife. He did not vote on a measure to allow logging projects to avoid environmental reviews. 

Ossoff and Warnock both scored 100%. Read more about the Defenders of Wildlife Scorecard here.

In a written statement to The Current, Warnock said he’s proud of his environmental voting record, which reflects his belief that “we are all called to be good stewards of our Earthly home so we can pass this home on to our children for future generations to enjoy.”

What’s good for the environment can be good for the economy, too, he said.

“I have secured record amounts of federal funding to spur Georgia’s clean energy economy because I know we can create jobs and at the same time invest in clean air, clean water, and preservation of our natural resources to promote healthy and safe communities. These scores are a testament to this work, and as long as I have the honor to serve all Georgians in the U.S. Senate, I will continue to fight for clean jobs and healthy communities.”

Carter and Ossoff did not respond to a request for comment.

The Tide brings regular notes and observations on news and events by The Current staff.