Tim Walz Joins Kamala Harris as VP Pick, Thrills Climate Activists

In a recent turn of events, climate change advocates are celebrating the announcement of Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as Kamala Harris‘ running mate for the upcoming presidential election. Walz’s strong climate action record has made waves, as many feel he could be a major player in environmental policy at the national level.

During a campaign event in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, Harris introduced Walz, and excitement was palpable among supporters. Jamie Henn from Fossil Free Media praised Walz, stating, “He had the best climate record of any of the VP contenders and has been unafraid to take on Big Oil.”

Gina McCarthy, who served as a national climate advisor under President Biden, expressed her support as well. She highlighted Walz’s dedication to clean energy, saying, “He can’t be bought by the fossil fuel industry. Walz is a climate champion moving Minnesota toward 100% clean energy.”

Last year, Walz enforced a significant policy aimed at transforming Minnesota’s energy landscape. He established a requirement for all power plants in the state to switch to 100% climate-friendly energy sources, like wind and solar, by 2040. This law may be slower than goals set by President Biden, but Walz emphasized the economic benefits of cleaner energy during its announcement.

“Minnesota will continue to lead the way on combating climate change, and we’ll create clean energy jobs in the process,” he said, recognizing the urgency stated by scientists dealing with climate change.

While some voices, including his Republican rival JD Vance, criticize Walz’s environmental actions, others emphasize his history of focusing on climate issues throughout his political career. As a Congressman, he attempted to pass legislation aimed at reducing global emissions, although the bill ultimately failed in the Senate.

Since becoming governor in 2018, Walz wasted no time diving into climate strategies. He created a subcabinet to specifically handle emissions reduction and further signed numerous initiatives to facilitate renewable energy projects.

Amidst all this, Walz also made headlines recently for championing a law aimed at protecting concert-goers from hidden fees when buying tickets. This new legislation, known as the Taylor Swift Law, requires ticket sellers to be transparent about pricing and bans speculative ticketing practices. Signed on May 7 at Minneapolis’ First Avenue venue, the law showcases Walz’s commitment to fairness for consumers, whether in tickets or climate action.