Young climate activists see Kamala Harris’ California roots and past actions as a stronger push for environmental change.
While President Joe Biden passed the most ambitious climate legislation in U.S. history, many young environmental leaders believe VP Kamala Harris is the stronger champion for environmental reforms. Over 350 prominent climate advocates have endorsed Vice President Harris for president, offering clear proof that key environmental leaders believe that a Harris campaign has the potential to excite the same range of climate voters that Biden's campaign has not attracted.
Environmental activists from 11 organizations who are engaging young voters in climate action note that Harris's record matters greatly, noting her history of going after big oil companies as a prosecutor, and for co-sponsoring the Green New Deal while serving as senator. Both of these things on their own make Kamala Harris a more adherent candidate than Joe Biden, despite all that Biden is doing for climate change. Even the Green New Deal Network, which is a coalition of 19 progressive environmental and social justice groups, including the Sunrise Movement, endorsed Kamala Harris this week, something they did not do for Joe Biden.
Former U.S. climate envoy John F. Kerry, former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and Washington Gov. Jay Inslee (D), made a point of expressing admiration for Kamala Harris's well-established record on climate action in a letter that they shared first with The Washington Post. Now, let's consider how her background in California influences Harris's environmental priorities.
The Inflation Reduction Act was passed by Vice President Kamala Harris, who cast the tie-breaking vote, moving hundreds of billions of dollars for clean energy and electric vehicle initiatives, as well as other efforts related to climate change. However, her environmental advocacy began well before her vice presidency, with a record that has grown stronger over time, according to advocates.
In 2005, when in the role of San Francisco district attorney, Harris created one of the first environmental justice units in any district attorney's office in the country. The environmental justice unit focused on pollution present in lower-income neighborhoods, such as Bayview-Hunters Point. In 2011, she settled with the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach to reduce diesel engine emissions and provide notification when there were high levels of diesel exhaust in the air.
In 2016, she pressed criminal charges against the operator of a pipeline that was responsible for a massive oil spill in Santa Barbara the year before, and in the same year, she also confronted PG&E for its role in the San Bruno pipeline explosion. “She has a very long record on climate change and environmental justice and has really put protecting communities at the center of a lot of her work,” said Leah Stokes, an associate professor at UC Santa Barbara. They also noted Harris' green bank legislation to fund low-income communities to reduce their carbon footprint, as well as the legislation that she sponsored to get electric school buses.
The Biden administration has made major inroads on climate, with the Inflation Reduction Act, the largest climate investment in U.S. history, commits nearly $370 billion to environmental projects. This climate legislation was supported by additional climate investments in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), including funding for clean energy, electric vehicle infrastructure, public transit, and climate resilience projects. Nevertheless, these young activists, who range from 16 to 29 years old, feel that the administration's promotion of the oil and gas industry has overshadowed these accomplishments. They note that under Biden, oil firm profits and U.S. oil exports have risen versus the Trump presidency.
Harris' young supporters highlight her work as California attorney general, where she secured settlements with Chevron, BP, and ConocoPhillips for their handling of hazardous substances. Harris has taken the opportunity in her campaign to discuss this early work. Her California background resonates with young environmentalists, who also recall her 2020 presidential campaign climate platform: a pledge to invest $10 trillion in climate action over a decade and a commitment to a 100% clean energy economy by 2045.
