In a historic move, President Joe Biden withdraws from the presidential race, endorsing Kamala Harris, highlighting her strong climate action record.
Zoya Teirstein reports for Grist.
In short:
- President Joe Biden has announced he will not seek re-election, endorsing Kamala Harris as the Democratic nominee.
- Harris has been a key player in Biden’s climate initiatives, including the Inflation Reduction Act and international climate commitments.
- As California's Attorney General, Harris prosecuted major environmental cases and created an environmental justice unit.
Key quote:
“We must do more. Our action collectively, or worse, our inaction will impact billions of people for decades to come.”
— Kamala Harris, Vice President of the United States
Why this matters:
In Kamala Harris, advocates and environmentalists would have an ally in the White House, one who's not afraid to make bold moves. The big question is: Can she rally Congress to back her vision? Because while the presidency has its powers, transforming climate policy requires serious legislative muscle.
For more context, listen to our conversation with Jalonne White-Newsome, Senior Director for Environmental Justice at the White House Council on Environmental Quality.
