Vice President Kamala Harris, who recently announced her intention to run against Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election, has a strong record on climate change.
Climate Change Remains Critical for Democrats
Climate and the environment are among some of the most pressing issues driving Democratic voters in the 2024 election. For many, Kamala Harris is just the candidate they’ve been waiting for.
“An Existential Threat”
“Climate change is real, and it is posing an existential threat to us as a community,” Harris said in 2019. “We must not only take it seriously, we must have a sense of urgency about this.”
Biden’s Record on Climate Change
President Biden, who recently dropped out of the presidential race in favor of endorsing his vice president for the 2024 election, has been widely recognized as the most environmentally-friendly president the United States has ever seen.
Voters Look to Harris
Biden’s strong stances and policy decisions on climate have played a large part in his supporters’ ongoing loyalty. Those supporters, from individuals to larger environmental agencies, are hopeful that Harris will continue Biden’s legacy.
A Strong Climate Record
In her political history, Harris has gone after massive oil companies with lawsuits and investigations for perpetuating false information about global warming.
Issues that Matter to Young Voters
While her experience in law enforcement acts as something of a red flag for many leftist voters, Harris’s climate record is working in her favor.
July Saw Hottest Day in History
Given that just days ago, the hottest day in history was recorded globally, environmental experts believe that the time to act on climate change is now.
Harris vs Trump
If Harris takes the Democratic nomination in August, she will face former president Donald Trump in a historic general election. Should she win, Harris will make history as the first woman to serve as President of the United States.
Trump’s Stance on the Climate
Trump, who was officially named the Republican nominee earlier this month, has environmentalists concerned about his views on climate change.
An Anti-Envinronment History
As president, Trump was against clean energy efforts, and now promises to refocus attention to bolstering the fossil fuel industry.
Trump’s VP Pick Also Dismisses Climate Change
J.D. Vance, who was recently selected as Trump’s running mate for the 2024 election, has a strong anti-climate stance as well, despite previously showing deep concern for the issue.
McCarthy’s Expert Opinion
Gina McCarthy, former White House National Climate Advisor, has previously praised the Biden administration for their efforts, saying that prioritizing climate change is an investment into the future.
“Nothing is More Important Than Our Future”
“Nothing is more important than our future,” McCarthy said. Nothing is more important than keeping our kids and our grandkids healthy, and keeping us all about. That’s what tackling climate change is all about.”
McCarthy Endorses Harris
In the wake of VP Harris’s announcement, McCarthy released a statement in support of the candidate, specifically praising Harris’s climate policies.
“She Will Fight Every Day for All Americans”
“Vice President Harris would kick ass against Trump,” McCarthy wrote. “She will fight every day for all Americans to have access to clean air, clean water, and a healthy environment.”
Is Climate the Biggest Item on the Dem Ticket?
In a contentious election cycle, Democrats could be leaning on the climate emergency as a major campaign point. Already, advocates are speaking out to compare and contrast Trump and Harris on the issue.
Young Voters Could Be Swayed by Harris
Biden’s campaign was doing very little to motivate Gen Z and millennial voters, and Democrats may be looking to Kamala to re-energize the demographic by talking about global warming – an issue that has shown to be important to young voters.
Harris’s History on Climate Speaks for Itself
Voters are watching to see how Harris will address climate change in the coming days, so far relying on her previous record and statements for clues on how she would tackle the issue as president.
Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock / Rich Koele.