A potential victory by Kamala Harris in the United States elections could signal a turning point in the climate battle. Since officially announcing her candidacy to succeed Joe Biden, many environmental groups have praised Harris for her long history of defending the environment and her commitment to strengthening green policies in the United States, both domestically and in shaping international climate commitments.
“Harris will fight every day to ensure Americans have access to clean air, clean water, and a healthy environment,” stated the first national climate adviser for Biden, Gina McCarthy, who also noted that the Democratic ranks are prepared to push forward the most ambitious climate law in history.
The Harris proposal on climate stands in sharp contrast to Donald Trump’s approach. During his presidency from 2017 to 2021, he withdrew the United States from the Paris Agreement to cut greenhouse gas emissions, dismantled more than 100 environmental and energy policies, and leaned into expanding fossil fuel industries and new oil and gas developments. He also claimed at times that climate change is a hoax. Now, in his renewed bid for the presidency, Trump pledges to revert to that path and dismantle the climate and energy policies achieved during the Biden administration, with a focus on the energy transition and boosting renewables.
Harris spoke at the Dubai Climate Summit to call for more ambitious actions to curb the climate crisis
In contrast, the Democratic candidate’s climate speech advocates increasing the ambition of environmental policies and, above all, creating a sense of urgency to implement them swiftly and decisively. She has warned that communities around the world are suffering from droughts, floods, and stronger hurricanes; wildfire smoke clouds skies, and rising sea levels threaten the livelihoods of millions. The urgency is clear, and the clock is ticking, Harris said last year at the Dubai Climate Summit in the United Arab Emirates, addressing world leaders.
Targeting the most polluting players
The trajectory of Harris shows that climate action has consistently been among her priorities beyond grand speeches. A Yale Climate Connections analysis notes that as California attorney general she opposed offshore drilling plans by major oil companies. She led an investigation against Exxon Mobil for spreading misinformation about climate change and pursued Volkswagen over the emissions cheating scandal. In her Senate tenure she supported the Green New Deal to accelerate the deployment of renewable energy across the United States.
As California attorney general, Harris pushed a probe into Exxon Mobil over climate misinformation
Throughout her political career, Harris has repeatedly called for a climate pollution tax that would require major polluters to pay for their greenhouse gas emissions. The New York Times notes that she has supported targeted measures to protect low-income neighborhoods from pollution risks and to help vulnerable families cover the costs of upgrading home energy efficiency. She summed up her view at the Dubai summit, saying the urgency of the moment demands more action now.
Whether Harris or Trump wins the next U.S. presidential election, the winner will play a pivotal role in climate policy and the planet’s future. The United States remains one of the largest greenhouse gas emitters and continues to be a major global polluter. It is also a leading donor in climate finance through initiatives like the Green Climate Fund, which supports developing countries as they contend with climate chaos. Moreover, the United States, as an economic power, can set a course for other nations and shape the global climate action agenda.