kamala harris climate action

Harris could redefine climate leadership in 2024

Vice President Kamala Harris' entry into the presidential race has ignited hope among environmentalists that her administration could push climate action further than President Biden’s, particularly by holding Big Oil accountable and addressing historic injustices.

Marianne Lavelle reports for Inside Climate News.


In short:

  • Harris has a history of challenging the oil industry and supporting environmental justice, making her a strong contender for advancing climate policies.
  • Her choice of running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, strengthens her climate credentials, especially given his success in making Minnesota carbon-free by 2040.
  • Despite skepticism from the Trump campaign, Harris’ focus on real-world benefits and her ability to communicate climate issues resonate with many voters.

Key quote:

She has a record of "making sure that Black and brown and low-income communities aren’t disproportionately impacted by corporate pollution."

— Kaniela Ing, national director of The Green New Deal Network

Why this matters:

While she’s likely to continue Biden's pragmatic approach, Kamala Harris's history as a prosecutor and a champion for justice could bring a fresh perspective to the fight against climate change. Read more: Robbie Parks on climate justice and mental health.

Shell’s petrochemical plant in Pennsylvania still hasn’t spurred economic development: Report
Shell's petrochemical complex in southwestern Pennsylvania. (Credit: Nate Smallwood for Environmental Health News and Sierra Magazine)

Shell’s petrochemical plant in Pennsylvania still hasn’t spurred economic development: Report

The county that’s home to the plant continues to fall behind the rest of the state and the nation in key measures of economic activity, according to a new analysis.

PITTSBURGH — After more than two years in operation, Shell’s petrochemical plant in Pennsylvania has failed to deliver economic growth to the surrounding region, according to a new report.

Keep reading...Show less
Senator Whitehouse & climate change

Senator Whitehouse puts climate change on budget committee’s agenda

For more than a decade, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse gave daily warnings about the mounting threat of climate change. Now he has a powerful new perch.
Factory with smoke emitting from a smokestack with piles of snowy dirt in foreground.

Big polluters miss key UN deadline on climate plans

Most major emitters, including China and the European Union, failed to submit updated emissions reduction plans to the United Nations, raising concerns about the global effort to combat climate change.

Chico Harlan reports for The Washington Post.

Keep reading...Show less
NOAA research ship at dock.

NOAA ordered to flag climate-related grants, raising fears of cuts

The Commerce Department has directed the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to review and identify climate-related grants, prompting concerns that funding for climate research and mitigation efforts could be at risk.

Christopher Flavelle, Austyn Gaffney and Raymond Zhong report for The New York Times.

Keep reading...Show less
Offshore wind farm under blue evening sky.

Blue states fight to keep clean energy projects alive under Trump

President Donald Trump has halted offshore wind leasing, frozen funding for renewable energy and created uncertainty around clean energy tax credits, leaving states scrambling to salvage their climate goals.

Alex Brown reports for Stateline.

Keep reading...Show less
Image of a maple leaf with a stamp with the words United States Tariff.

Proposed oil tariff could raise gas prices in the Midwest

A potential 10% tariff on Canadian oil, proposed by President Trump, could force U.S. refineries to either pay more for crude or cut production, leading to higher fuel prices.

Rebecca F. Elliott reports for The New York Times.

Keep reading...Show less
Cars on a highway with white smoke emitting from smokestacks in the background.

Turkey surpasses Germany as Europe's biggest fossil fuel polluter

Turkey’s reliance on coal-fired power pushed its carbon emissions past Germany’s in 2024, reflecting a broader shift of Europe’s industrial pollution from its traditional hubs to regions with looser environmental regulations.

Gavin Maguire reports for Reuters.

Keep reading...Show less
person wearing a hard hat and holding air quality monitoring equipment in HVAC room.

Environmental group left in limbo after federal grant suddenly vanishes

A South Carolina environmental nonprofit lost access to a $365,000 federal grant after the Trump administration froze Inflation Reduction Act funds, leaving critical air monitoring projects in marginalized communities at risk.

Lisa Sorg reports for Inside Climate News.

Keep reading...Show less
From our Newsroom
wildfire retardants being sprayed by plane

New evidence links heavy metal pollution with wildfire retardants

“The chemical black box” that blankets wildfire-impacted areas is increasingly under scrutiny.

People  sitting in an outdoors table working on a big sign.

Op-ed: Why funding for the environmental justice movement must be anti-racist

We must prioritize minority-serving institutions, BIPOC-led organizations and researchers to lead environmental justice efforts.

joe biden

Biden finalizes long-awaited hydrogen tax credits ahead of Trump presidency

Responses to the new rules have been mixed, and environmental advocates worry that Trump could undermine them.

Op-ed: Toxic prisons teach us that environmental justice needs abolition

Op-ed: Toxic prisons teach us that environmental justice needs abolition

Prisons, jails and detention centers are placed in locations where environmental hazards such as toxic landfills, floods and extreme heat are the norm.

Agents of Change in Environmental Justice logo

LISTEN: Reflections on the first five years of the Agents of Change program

The leadership team talks about what they’ve learned — and what lies ahead.

Stay informed: sign up for The Daily Climate newsletter
Top news on climate impacts, solutions, politics, drivers. Delivered to your inbox week days.