May, 30 2018, 12:00am EDT
Bill McKibben and 350 Action Endorse Kevin de Leon (D-CA) for the U.S. Senate
Today, author Bill McKibben and 350 Action, a national organization working to change the politics of climate change, endorsed Kevin de Leon (D-CA) for the U.S. Senate. Read De Leon's answers to 350 Action's candidate questionnaire here.
WASHINGTON
Today, author Bill McKibben and 350 Action, a national organization working to change the politics of climate change, endorsed Kevin de Leon (D-CA) for the U.S. Senate. Read De Leon's answers to 350 Action's candidate questionnaire here.
"Kevin de Leon has been a strong champion of clean energy--and an effective one, using his power in Sacramento to make change happen against the strong opposition of the fossil fuel industry," said 350.org co-founder Bill McKibben. "He won't just vote the right way in DC, he will make the climate justice debate come alive!"
"California is seen as a leader in climate action, but there's so much more that must be done," said 350 Action Executive Director May Boeve. "Kevin de Leon has authored several bills to push the needle on climate in his home state, including California's SB100 for a 100% renewable energy transition. He is rising to the challenge to make California a true leader on climate that goes above and beyond what we've seen nationally, and not a moment too soon."
On the connection between healthy communities and environmental justice, De Leon wrote in his questionnaire, "Public health is the cornerstone of environmental and environmental justice policy, and will always be among my highest priorities. Environmental justice is at the core of the health problems suffered by people of color--especially our children and parents--who live and work in the inland areas of Los Angeles, the Central Valley, and San Diego. It is ironic that economic interests often argue against strong environmental protection based on costs, when those costs do not take into account the millions of dollars spent every year in emergency room costs, job and school absenteeism and the like. These are the true economic costs associated with pollution, and they are a real world experience for most of the communities I represent."
350 Action is empowering voters across the country to make a direct impact in the most important climate races in the nation. This year, 350 Action has also endorsed U.S. congressional candidates Deb Haaland (NM-1), Jess King (PA-11), Kaniela Ing (HI-1), and Thomas Heckroth (IA-1), and gubernatorial candidates Cynthia Nixon (D-NY), Ben Jealous (D-MD), Cathy Glasson (D-IA), Andrew Gillum (D-FL), and Bob Massie (D-MA).
350 is building a future that's just, prosperous, equitable and safe from the effects of the climate crisis. We're an international movement of ordinary people working to end the age of fossil fuels and build a world of community-led renewable energy for all.
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