350 Action Responds to Biden's Choice for Vice President, Kamala Harris

Today, former Vice President Joe Biden announced his pick for Vice President, Kamala Harris. Harris is a former rival turned supporter of Biden, as well as the co-author of recent racial and environmental justice legislation called the Climate Equity Plan alongside Rep. Ocasio-Cortez. Harris is the first Black woman and first person of Indian descent to be nominated for Vice President of the United States.

350 Action North America Director Tamara Toles O'Laughlin gave the following response:

"Today's announcement is historic and we honor the first Black woman to be nominated for the Vice Presidency. Harris has demonstrated a solid understanding of the scale of the climate crisis through the plans she released last year in her bid for the Presidency. We need strong voices for fossil fuel accountability at all levels, and Harris has made commitments we will hold her to. Her stance on polluter accountability and stopping handouts to the fossil fuel industry are at the top of the list for the climate voter Harris' recent Climate Equity Bill demonstrates her willingness to tackle environmental and racial injustice head on and we applaud her prioritization of communities most impacted by the climate crisis.

"We're confident that Harris' stated commitments to climate action means that she will work with Biden to implement a Green New Deal that prioritizes Black, Indigenous and communities of color and builds in a just transition that phases out fossil fuels by 2021 for our health and safety.

"As the contest unfolds, Harris has work to do to prove her support for the movement for Black lives, considering her record on police and prosecutorial misconduct. We need leaders who are ready to address the compound crisis of climate, racial injustice, economic inequity, and human health. We will be looking to Harris to fully engage on behalf of communities supporting her and lead a much needed social and economic transformation."