In introducing Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as Kamala Harris鈥� running mate, the yet, or his work to reduce the state鈥檚 dependence on fossil fuels. But climate advocates are already heaping praise on Walz.
鈥淭im Walz had the best climate record of any of the VP contenders and has been unafraid to take on Big Oil,鈥� Jamie Henn, of Fossil Free Media .
鈥淚 am all in for Walz,鈥� said Gina McCarthy, former Biden White House national climate advisor. She now co-chairs a climate coalition called . 鈥淗e can't be bought by the fossil fuel industry. Walz is a climate champion moving Minnesota toward 100% clean energy.鈥�
Last year Walz requiring all Minnesota power plants to use 100% climate-friendly energy such as wind and solar by 2040. That鈥檚 five years slower than the set by President Joe Biden. But in making the announcement, Walz echoed the that transitioning the energy system to cleaner fuels also creates more jobs.
鈥淢innesota will continue to lead the way on combating climate change, and we鈥檒l create clean energy jobs in the process,鈥� Walz said. He also underscored the urgency scientists say is needed. 鈥淲hen I hear people say, 鈥榊ou're moving too fast,鈥� we can't move too fast when it comes to addressing climate change.鈥�
Scientists say humans must limit global warming to above pre-industrial levels to avoid the . But the world to achieve that goal under current policies.
鈥淭here's a clear intentionality that Governor Walz has shown throughout his political career to center environmental issues and climate justice,鈥� says Antonio Arellano with , a youth voter organization. 鈥淲e hope that he brings that now to the national level.鈥�
Climate change has been a theme through Tim Walz鈥檚 political career. As a representative in Congress, he . It would have capped planet-heating emissions across the economy, but the legislation failed to pass the Senate.
Walz was elected governor in 2018 and began working on climate issues his first year in office.
鈥淗e noted that Minnesota had failed to meet its emissions goals, so he to create a new subcabinet focused on reducing emissions and addressing climate change,鈥� Arellano says. Walz also signed that accelerated the permitting process for building renewable energy sites, for clean energy workers and . On Earth Day this year, he鈥檇 signed over 40 climate initiatives into law.
Walz鈥檚 Republican rival JD Vance and the fossil fuels causing it. As recently as 2020 Vance expressed concern about climate change and using natural gas to fuel power plants. But as a he doesn鈥檛 think there is a climate crisis.
Now he鈥檚 criticizing Walz for his work on the issue.
鈥淭his is a guy who has proposed shipping more manufacturing jobs to China鈥� Who wants to make the American people more reliant on garbage energy instead of good American energy,鈥� Vance told reporters on his campaign plane Tuesday.
Former President Trump and Vance claim the Biden administration鈥檚 effort to and help China鈥檚 manufacturing sector. The GOP candidates also regularly criticize, what they call, the 鈥溾�� and praise domestic oil and gas production. The actually contains the words 鈥淒rill, baby, drill.鈥�
The with campaign contributions and the industry鈥檚 largest trade group, American Petroleum Institute, is to 鈥渃ement American energy leadership, protect consumers and help reduce inflation.鈥�
鈥淲e encourage the Harris-Walz campaign to detail their stance on the key issues that will shape America鈥檚 energy future,鈥� wrote Mike Sommers, API president and CEO in a statement. Specifically, the group wants a pause on new natural gas export permits lifted and more oil and gas leases for drillers on public lands and offshore, even as the U.S. is .
While climate change has not emerged as a key element of this campaign so far, the addition of Tim Walz means the candidates at the top of this November鈥檚 ballot will have very different views 鈥� and records 鈥� on climate change.
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