How a Harris/Walz administration could advance climate equity

by Padmini Das

The Biden administration’s Justice40 initiative represents a historic effort to address environmental and economic injustices, directing 40% of federal climate and clean energy investments to disadvantaged communities, particularly low-income areas and communities of color. These communities have long faced the brunt of environmental degradation and are most vulnerable to climate change impacts. Justice40 aims to correct this by investing in clean energy, infrastructure, and job creation to foster both environmental and economic equity.

Looking ahead to the 2024 election, a Harris/Walz administration offers the potential to expand upon this progress. Kamala Harris has been a strong advocate for climate justice, with a focus on ensuring that vulnerable populations are not left behind in the clean energy transition. Tim Walz, as Governor of Minnesota, has successfully balanced progressive environmental policies with the economic concerns of rural communities, positioning him as a pragmatic leader who is capable of navigating regional resistance.

Together, they can enhance Justice40, using strategies like targeted incentives and job retraining programs to ease the transition in fossil fuel-dependent regions. A Harris/Walz administration would focus on making climate equity not just a policy goal but a practical reality, bridging partisan divides and ensuring that the clean energy future benefits all Americans.

The impact of Justice40 and current successes

Since its launch, Justice40 has directed billions in federal investment toward communities that have long suffered the brunt of environmental harm, including exposure to pollution, poor air quality, and increased flooding due to climate change. These communities, primarily located in urban centers and rural areas neglected by economic growth, have benefited from investments in clean energy projects, improved water infrastructure, and initiatives designed to improve climate resilience.

For example, states like Michigan, CaliforniaNew York, and Louisiana have seen tangible improvements from Justice40, with federal dollars pouring into projects like solar energy farms, flood management systems, and electric vehicle infrastructure. Detroit, Michigan, has benefited from investments in renewable energy projects that reduce emissions while creating thousands of green jobs for residents. Louisiana, frequently plagued by devastating hurricanes, has seen a portion of the funds used for better flood protection and clean water access, helping those most vulnerable to environmental disasters.

In California, the state’s aggressive approach to clean energy and climate policy has dovetailed with Justice40 investments. Federal dollars have supported impactful public transportation projects in Los Angeles and San Francisco, targeting low-income communities of color that have long been neglected in infrastructure spending. Similarly, New York City has seen investments in clean public housing initiatives, where old, energy-inefficient buildings are being retrofitted to reduce emissions and lower utility costs for residents.

Overcoming resistance in conservative states

While Justice40 has been instrumental in many states, it faces staunch resistance in traditionally conservative regions that are economically reliant on fossil fuels. In states like Texas, West Virginia, and Kentucky, where coal, oil and natural gas are economic mainstays, climate policies face strong resistance and are often viewed as unwelcome government overreach. For residents of these states, clean energy policies are viewed not as opportunities but as threats to their livelihoods.

The Harris/Walz administration would bring a measured and inclusive approach to addressing this resistance. Kamala Harris has consistently championed environmental justice, with a deep understanding of how climate change disproportionately affects communities of color and low-income populations. Tim Walz, with his experience as governor of Minnesota — a state with both urban and rural populations — brings a pragmatic perspective on balancing environmental policy with the economic realities of struggling regions. Together, they can reframe climate policy as a means to economic empowerment, not a cause for economic devastation.

A Harris/Walz administration would likely prioritize expanding job retraining programs, especially in coal-dependent and oil-reliant communities. By providing concrete economic benefits and immediate opportunities through clean energy job creation, Harris and Walz can demonstrate that climate action can coexist with economic security. This pragmatic approach would help alleviate fears in regions where the transition to clean energy has felt abstract, distant, and uncertain.

The threat of a Trump-Vance administration

In stark contrast, a Trump-Vance administration would almost certainly dismantle the progress made on climate equity and clean energy transition. Project 2025, the right-wing playbook for governing under a Trump administration, outlines a path that would roll back environmental protections, eliminate climate-related policies, and reallocate funds meant for environmental justice to prop up fossil fuel industries. Under this administration, initiatives like Justice40 would likely be scrapped, diverting much-needed investment away from disadvantaged communities and exacerbating environmental and economic inequities.

For example, in states like West Virginia and Kentucky, where coal has long dominated the economy, Trump and Vance would double down on fossil-fuel dependence, cutting off opportunities for job retraining and economic diversification. Rather than guiding these regions toward a just transition, a Trump-Vance administration would leave them further entrenched in industries that are slowly becoming obsolete. The generational consequences of this approach would be stark — environmental degradation, job losses in the long run, and missed opportunities for economic revitalization through clean energy investments.

How Harris/Walz can lead on climate equity

The Harris/Walz ticket offers the chance to move beyond resistance and division, showing all Americans — especially those in conservative states — that climate equity is not just an environmental imperative but an economic one. Harris and Walz have the experience and empathy to engage communities left behind by economic shifts and federal policies, working to ensure that clean energy transition is not a zero-sum game — the perception that “either you are for the environment, or you are for jobs,” is false. Their administration would focus on proving that disadvantaged regions can thrive in a future dominated by renewable energy, rather than being left behind.

The key to this effort will be local engagement. Rather than imposing top-down solutions, the Harris/Walz administration can work closely with state and local governments, businesses, and communities to craft tailored solutions that meet both environmental and economic needs. In regions that have long viewed federal climate initiatives with skepticism, showing immediate and tangible benefits — from infrastructure investments to new job opportunities — will be crucial.

Reframing climate policy as opportunity

Public perception is a major hurdle to advancing climate equity, particularly in red states where climate policy is often framed as a threat to jobs and where alternative sources of income may be scarce. Harris and Walz have an opportunity to change this narrative, positioning clean energy not as an urban, elite priority but as a driver of economic opportunity for all Americans.

Clean energy is already a job creator, and with the right policies, it can be a lifeline for communities that have suffered from economic stagnation. By showcasing success stories — such as retrained coal workers finding new opportunities in solar energy, or oil industry engineers transitioning to wind energy projects — Harris and Walz can build a powerful case for climate action as a source of hope and renewal.

This communications strategy will be essential in states like Texas and West Virginia, where opposition to environmental regulation runs deep. By emphasizing the economic opportunities tied to climate resilience projects, clean energy infrastructure, and green job training programs, Harris and Walz can redefine climate policy as a win-win proposition for both the environment and the economy.

​​A cleaner and more just future

The 2024 election presents a stark choice between two very different visions of America’s future. A Trump/Vance administration would all but guarantee the dismantling of federal efforts to address climate change, leaving vulnerable communities at greater risk and widening the gap between rich and poor. Their Republican administration would prioritize short-term economic gains for the fossil fuel industry over the long-term health and prosperity of the nation.

Thankfully, voters have an alternative. A Harris/Walz administration would continue and expand upon the Justice40 initiative, pushing for a more equitable distribution of clean energy investments and ensuring that disadvantaged communities are not left behind.

The Harris/Walz administration offers a vision of decency, skill and humanity that can guide the country toward a just and inclusive clean energy future. With Harris and Walz at the helm, climate equity can become more than just a policy goal — it can become a lived reality for millions of Americans.

The  leadership of a Harris-Walz administration can bridge the political divide, demonstrating that a transition to clean energy is not just a priority for the privileged but a national mission to equitably uplift all communities. Under their leadership, America has the opportunity to lead the world in creating a cleaner, fairer, and more inclusive future for generations to come.

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