Kamala's Climate Chops

It’s amazing how much the world can change in nine days.? On Saturday, July 13th, there was an assassination attempt on Donald Trump.? On Sunday, July 21st, Joe Biden dropped out of the presidential race, endorsing Vice-President Kamala Harris.? What had felt like a very stuck race between two aging white guys suddenly broke open into entirely new territory.? It’s no surprise to readers of 52 Weeks that any climate change agent would prefer the Democratic ticket (see 2024 – The Year of Political Action).? Harris and her team moved like greased lightning to rally the party behind her, raise an inordinate amount of cash, and is now the presumptive nominee.? The speed was breathtaking.? Though the official roll call of delegates is scheduled for the first week of August, she has already garnered the needed endorsements.? Now that she has unequivocally claimed the role of candidate, what might we expect from a President Harris on the climate front?? The short answer is – A LOT!?

Let’s start with some recent history.? Back in the Clinton/Trump debates for the 2016 election, climate change was never mentioned.? In June of 2017, Trump pulled the US out of the Paris Agreement.? Climate change was off the political radar screen even though it was on the minds of most Americans.? After the 2018 midterms, a newly elected Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez joined the climate youth group, Sunrise Movement, in a sit-in at the office of her new boss, House speaker Nancy Pelosi.? By February of 2019, these protesters were welcomed by key Democratic lawmakers and the Green New Deal was brought forward as a non-binding resolution by AOC (in the House) and Edward Markey (in the Senate).? It did not pass.? However, this sweeping vision became the backbone of a major policy proposal by the Biden administration called Build Back Better.? After more than a year of negotiations, compromise and scope reduction, major parts of the proposal passed Congress as the Inflation Reduction Act in 2022.? Trump has recently reframed the Green New Deal as the “Green New Scam.”? Though the science has been clear for decades, climate change as a major political issue is a fairly new phenomenon in the US.?

Given this backdrop, it’s important to note that as early as 2005, Harris started one of the first environmental justice units in the country as the district attorney of San Francisco (2004 – 2011). ?As attorney general for the state of California (2011 – 2017), she prioritized environmental protection including multimillion-dollar settlements with BP, Chevron, and ConocoPhillips.? She also won the “Dieselgate” case against Volkswagen who paid an $86 million settlement to the state of California.? As a US senator, Harris was a co-sponsor for the Green New Deal and opposed the expansion of fracking in the country as a 2020 presidential candidate.? As Vice President, she cast the tie-breaking vote for the Inflation Reduction Act.? She also represented the US in COP28 in Dubai last December.? To quote from her COP speech:

“This is a pivotal moment.? Our action collectively, or worse, our inaction will impact billions of people for decades to come.? For as much as we have accomplished, there is still so much more work to do, and continued progress will not be possible without a fight.? ?Around the world, there are those who seek to slow or stop our progress. Leaders who deny climate science, delay climate action and spread misinformation. Corporations that greenwash their climate inaction and lobby for billions of dollars in fossil fuel subsidies.? In the face of their resistance, and in the context of this moment, we must do more.”

In summary, her climate credentials are solid.?

There’s no question that Harris could energize a large contingent of youth voters disenfranchised by some of Biden’s decisions.? He lost many of the climate-minded youth in his decision to approve the controversial Willow Project last year, an oil drilling by ConocoPhillips located in the fragile wetlands of Alaska’s North Slope.? A recent letter (7/25) from a coalition of youth groups challenged Harris to step up and be the bold leader they hope for.? She will likely energize a large contingent of voters of color and women.?

Harris will clearly bring a stronger advocacy for climate issues than Biden.? One big question is whether her environmental and climate credentials could be a liability.? This sounds like a heretical statement from the desk of 52 Weeks but politics is politics.? The swing states needed to win this election have strong red constituencies that are more concerned with “kitchen table” issues (e.g., inflation and immigration) than climate change.?

We have about a hundred days to see how this will play out.? In the meantime, keep the faith, stay in the game, and do whatever part you can.? Talk to friends and neighbors, write letters, support voter registration in swing states – don’t be a bystander.? The time is NOW!