Six Things to Know about Harris and Trump’s Climate Records before the DNC 

If you’re going to write about climate in your coverage of the Democratic National Convention, the choice between the two candidates couldn’t be more clear. Kamala Harris has a positive vision for the future that will protect all Americans, while Donald Trump’s vision for the future only protects his billionaire pals. 

Kamala Harris cast the tie-breaking vote to triple cost-saving clean energy production while saving Americans $38 billion on their electricity bills. Trump will screw the middle class by gutting our clean energy economy and giving $110 billion in tax breaks and other “deals” to Big Oil CEOs. 

As California Attorney General, Kamala Harris held corporate polluters accountable for poisoning the environment. As Senator, she introduced legislation to replace lead pipes. Trump, on the other hand, called climate change a “hoax” and will let corporate polluters pump toxins into our air and water. 

When it comes to climate and clean energy, Trump is weird and Harris is wired. 

1. WIRED: Two years ago, Kamala Harris cast the tie-breaking vote for the Inflation Reduction Act, which has so far created more than 330,000 jobs. These jobs are at risk under a second Trump presidency. 
   1. Arizona: 18,130 new clean energy jobs and $11.81 billion in investment
   2. Georgia: 32,191 new clean energy jobs and $23.91 billion in investment
   3. Michigan: 21,748 new clean energy jobs and $26.63 billion in investment
   4. Nevada: 20,448 new clean energy jobs and $14.5 billion in investment
   5. North Carolina: 11,850 new clean energy jobs and $19.09 billion in investment
   6. Ohio: 13,887 new clean energy jobs and $10.47 billion in investment
   7. Pennsylvania: 2,881 new clean energy jobs and $1.09 billion in investment
   8. Texas: 24,122 new clean energy jobs and $17.03 billion in investment
   9. Wisconsin: 1,962 new clean energy jobs and $940.7 million in investment
2. WIRED: Kamala Harris has made a career out of standing up to Big Oil, protecting everyday Americans while holding billionaires accountable. 
   1. As attorney general, Harris secured $50 million in settlements from lawsuits against Big Oil giants Chevron, BP, ConocoPhillips, and Phillips 66.
   2. Harris also directed her office to investigate possible criminal violations after an oil pipeline spill released up to 143,000 gallons of crude oil in 2015, damaging Santa Barbara’s coastline. 
3. WEIRD: Trump outlines his second-term agenda in Project 2025, which lies to Americans about climate change.
   1. Project 2025 would surrender our fight against the climate crisis and increase costs for the middle class. 
   2. Project 2025 would gut climate science, end clean energy investments, open drilling on protected lands, and dismantle the EPA and the National Weather Service.
4. WIRED: According to recent polling, climate and clean energy are strengths for Vice President Harris. 
   1. Vice President Harris leads Trump by double digits when it comes to who voters think would be better on the issue of climate change (51% Harris vs 28% Trump) and expanding clean energy (52% Harris vs 30% Trump).
   2. Seven in ten Americans want to continue our investments in clean energy manufacturing in the US —and by a margin of +37pp, a significant majority of voters trust Harris more than Trump to deliver.
   3. Trump’s refusal to believe in climate change is completely out of touch with voters: 68% of voters say Republicans’ climate denialism raises significant concerns.
5. WEIRD: Trump promised Big Oil Executives he would implement their agenda while asking for $1 billion in campaign donations.
   1. At a Mar-a-Lago campaign event this spring, Trump told the oil and gas executives in the room that giving him $1 billion in campaign donations would be a “deal” because of the taxes and regulation they would avoid. 
   2. When he was in office, Trump’s tax cut gave $25 billion to big oil. Trump bailed out the oil industry during the pandemic and pledged, “we will never let the great U.S. oil & gas industry down.”
6. WIRED: Governor Tim Walz prioritized protecting Minnesota’s air and water while expanding clean energy training in the state. 
   1. Under Governor Walz, Minnesota became the first state in the Midwest to adopt more stringent pollution standards for cars and trucks, which will protect our air from harmful chemicals. 
   2. Walz signed legislation to reduce carbon intensity in transportation fuels by 100 percent by 2050 as well as legislation investing $240 million in lead pipe replacement.
   3. Walz’s administration has also funded clean energy career training to prepare Minnesotans for the industries of the future. 

Young people, women, and communities of color are energized to vote in an election that pits a pro-climate ticket of Harris and Walz against Donald Trump and JD Vance. Harris and Walz will lower energy costs and hold big oil accountable for inflated prices and pollution. Trump and Vance are dangerous, and their Project 2025 agenda will weaken the middle class and pollute our planet.