Kamala Harris Champions Climate Change Initiatives and Paris Agreement

Vice President Kamala Harris has officially announced her candidacy for the 2024 presidential election, receiving the endorsement of President Joe Biden, who recently declared he would not seek re-election. As the prospect of a Harris presidency looms, her environmental policy record is coming under scrutiny. Notably, during her tenure as a U.S. senator, Harris was an early co-sponsor of the Green New Deal, a significant climate initiative aimed at achieving 100% clean energy within a decade, which also emphasizes job guarantees and a national healthcare system. In her 2019 presidential campaign, Harris proposed a comprehensive $10 trillion plan to cut greenhouse gas emissions, targeting a zero-emissions economy by 2045. She advocated for a "climate pollution fee" to hold polluters accountable and pledged to enhance enforcement against fossil fuel companies. Harris also committed to establishing an independent Office of Climate and Environmental Justice Accountability to ensure that the voices of frontline communities are heard and that federal actions are monitored for their impact on these populations. Harris's environmental advocacy extends back to her time as California's attorney general, where she took significant legal action against major corporations like Exxon Mobil and Plains All-American Pipeline for environmental violations. Her efforts included securing an $86 million settlement from Volkswagen over diesel emissions cheating. Harris has consistently framed environmental crimes as injustices against vulnerable communities, emphasizing the need for equitable solutions. A proponent of the Paris Climate Agreement, Harris has pledged to prioritize the climate crisis as a national security issue, signaling her commitment to addressing environmental challenges at the highest levels of government.