Presidential hopeful Kamala Harris published a policy platform Monday with a promise to “tackle the climate crisis” and reduce energy costs.
The platform — dubbed “A New Way Forward” on Harris’ campaign website — comes seven weeks after the vice president became the Democrats’ presumptive nominee, following President Joe Biden’s decision to step aside. She and former President Donald Trump are due to meet for their first debate Tuesday.
While it has sections on reducing housing costs, strengthening health care and cutting middle-class taxes in addition to climate and energy portions, the platform has few detailed policy proposals.
“As President, she will unite Americans to tackle the climate crisis as she builds on this historic work, advances environmental justice, protects public lands and public health, increases resilience to climate disasters, lowers household energy costs, creates millions of new jobs, and continues to hold polluters accountable to secure clean air and water for all,” the platform states.
“As the Vice President said at the international climate conference, COP28, she knows that meeting this global challenge will require global cooperation and she is committed to continuing and building upon the United States’ international climate leadership,” it continues.
“She and Governor [Tim] Walz will always fight for the freedom to breathe clean air, drink clean water, and live free from the pollution that fuels the climate crisis,” the platform says.
Beyond promises to defend Biden’s legacy, including the Inflation Reduction Act, and warning that it is at risk if Trump wins, Harris’ campaign has been light on climate, environment and energy proposals.
She has eschewed progressive plans she endorsed during her 2019 presidential campaign, like the Green New Deal, a ban on fracking and a mandate for all new vehicle sales to be electric.
Harris’ platform also includes a section on Trump’s plans and Project 2025, the conservative policy playbook written for Trump that he has sought distance from.
“Trump asked Big Oil executives to give his campaign money so he could roll back regulations and cut taxes for Big Oil to boost their profits, and Trump’s plans would push gas prices up,” it says, a reference to Trump request for $1 billion in campaign support from oil company executives.
Trump has promised to roll back regulations and other environmental policies en masse, with the goal of a massive increase in fossil fuel production.
“We will make America the dominant energy producer in the world by far. That’s called drill, baby, drill, right? Drill, baby, drill. And remember we have more liquid gold under our feet than any other country,” he said at a rally in Wisconsin this weekend.
The former president has also promised to pull back all unspent funds from the IRA and redirect them to other purposes, which would likely violate the law.
