Harris Will Move Climate Agenda Forward; Trump Will Handcuff It

Photo: Reuters/Piroschka van de Wouw

By Radha Adhar

WASHINGTON, DC – Growing up, I spent my summers between a rural community on the outskirts of Agra, India and in Wilmington, North Carolina. I’m not sure two places could be more different, and the contrast helped shape my understanding of our planet and sparked my dedication to addressing climate change.

Wilmington’s ocean breezes and Agra’s ancient cityscape each paint a picture of the environmental challenges we face globally. In Wilmington, the community has been grappling with a water contamination crisis as companies dispose of “forever chemicals” or PFAS in the Cape Fear River. Thousands of miles away in India, people have experienced extreme heat and deadly flooding fueled by climate change.

These challenges have influenced and motivated me in my roles in the Senate and the Administration, roles which had me work on the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). As North Carolina begins to reap the rewards of these historic bills, I am reminded of how both places—half a world apart—set me on this path of environmentalism.

The results of these policies speak for themselves. The IRA, America’s largest climate investment in history, has in just two years created over 330,000 clean energy jobs in the U.S. and has saved families $8.4 billion in consumer rebates to purchase energy efficient appliances. The success of these programs prove that we can tackle the climate crisis while promoting economic growth.

My home state of North Carolina is a stand out nationwide as a prime beneficiary of the climate policies in both the IRA and BIL. According to the Department of Energy, these laws have led to some of the fastest growth in clean energy jobs nationwide with over 14,000 new clean energy jobs created in the state, supported by approximately $12.9 billion in capital investment in 2023 alone. These initiatives include major projects in electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing, lithium processing, battery storage, and renewable energy infrastructure, especially benefitting rural and economically distressed areas.

These investments aren’t just numbers on a ledger; they’re proof that North Carolina is taking charge of its energy future –– building a better economy that will help protect our coastlines and public health. We have a long way to go, but with every wind turbine and solar panel, we’re moving closer to a future that North Carolina deserves.

I also recognize that the benefits of these policies reach far beyond my hometown of Wilmington or even the U.S. more broadly. Climate change is a global crisis and the steps taken by the Biden-Harris administration, including signing the IRA and BIL, and rejoining the Paris climate agreement, are helping reduce global emissions and ensure a healthier environment no matter where you live.

As the U.S. election approaches, we need to put our support behind leaders who will ensure these investments continue to thrive and use them as a foundation for further growth. Vice President Kamala Harris understands the importance of tackling climate change while promoting clean energy jobs. As Vice President, she cast the tie-breaking vote to pass the IRA and has talked about the ability to live free of pollution as a matter of “freedom.”

Former President Donald Trump, on the other hand, rolled back 100 climate rules while in office, handcuffed the Environmental Protection Agency from enforcing environmental laws, and withdrew from the Paris Agreement. Trump’s actions not only set America back in its goals to reduce emissions, but it also hurt our collective effort to tackle the global climate crisis.

On November 5th, I hope our country will elect the candidate who is committed to solving this crisis, protecting families from climate-fueled disasters, and ensuring that the U.S. can be an ally in the efforts to reduce global emissions.

(Adhar served as a Senior Policy Advisor in the U.S. Senate and in the Biden Administration has been head of EPA’s Congressional Affairs, then Legislative Director at the White House Council on Environmental Quality and finally Special Assistant to the President.)