The DNC Talks Environment, Climate Change, and Clean Energy

Sign for the 2024 Democratic National Convention in Chicago, August 19 -22 — *Photo credit:* *Lorie Shaull*

The Democratic National Convention (DNC) began on Sunday this week in Chicago, the first time it’s been hosted in the city since 1996.

With a whirlwind of changes to the democratic presidential election campaign in just the last four weeks - with President Joe Biden stepping down and passing the baton to Vice President Kamala Harris - all eyes are on the next president-elect to take a stance on some of the most important issues facing Americans today.

While the DNC is held mainly to nominate the democratic candidates for President and Vice President of the United States, and provide support for those candidates, remarks throughout the convention touched on hot-button issues that most Americans base their votes on for the November 5 election.

While not at the forefront of the convention’s biggest highlights, environmental policy and climate change topics were present around the convention as public figures and state and federal leaders demonstrated their support and pride in America’s environmental accomplishments, most recently the passing of the Inflation Reduction Act.

It is more important now than ever for both the Republican and Democratic parties to stand firm in their values and paint a clear moral picture to American citizens of their commitments to conservationism, climate policy, and clean energy, and all eyes were on the DNC this week to demonstrate what those values were for the Democrats.

In case you missed it, here are some of the highlights of the environmental stances portrayed by thought leaders and elected officials at the Democratic National Convention, right up to Kamala Harris’ nomination acceptance speech.

Josh Shapiro comments on fracking in Pennsylvania

Picture of Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro — *Photo Credit:* *Anthony Quintano*

While Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro had a speech Thursday night at the DNC, he was questioned earlier in the week in a booth with CBS reporters on the issues of fracking in Pennsylvania. As a swing state in the 2024 election, Pennsylvania is considered a pivotal battleground for both candidates in the coming months. Harris, as of August 23, is leading in the state polls by a narrow 1.8 percentage points.

With the democratic ticket leaning in favor of shifting the U.S. energy mix to a majority of renewable energy sources, it may be difficult for Harris to lead on the issue of energy policy given Pennsylvania’s fracking industry, which stimulates the state’s economy and provides tens of thousands of jobs. Harris has stated she is in support of banning fracking, while Trump aims to defend the practice.

“I’m an all-of-the-above energy governor,” Shapiro told reporters. “We are a net energy exporter, we have been a powerhouse for generations. Not only is it important for jobs and to put food on the table, we take pride in that, Harris said that in 2019. She showed up and a bunch listened and made clear that now she wants to continue natural gas extractions. She wants to continue to help Pennsylvania be a leader when it comes to energy production.”

However, Pennsylvania continues to be weary of Harris’ strong support of banning fracking in the past, and is looking for whether she will find common ground to win a state that could otherwise, potentially, cost her the election.

World’s largest private developer of renewable energy hosts Wednesday night’s Clean Power Happy Hour

Michael Polsky, Founder and CEO at Invenergy, speaking at the Democratic National Convention's Clean Power Happy Hour. — *Photo credit: Sophie Shulman*

Chicago is home to the headquarters of Invenergy, the largest private developer of renewable energy projects in the world. Wednesday night ahead of big speeches like those coming from Oprah Winfrey, Bill Clinton, and vice president-elect Tim Walz, Invenergy hosted a Clean Power Happy Hour inviting DNC attendees to celebrate innovation in energy, as well as the accomplishments of the Inflation Reduction Act, widely known as the largest climate change legislation to ever be passed in the United States.

Kelly Speakes-Backman, Executive Vice President of Public Affairs at Invenergy, and Michael Polsky, Founder and CEO, spoke about the Chicago-based company and its strides in ushering in the clean energy transition, especially as U.S. energy demand increases exponentially and requires a more robust portfolio of renewable energy and battery storage to rise up to the challenge.

Celebrity guests like Yvette Nicole Brown, Danai Gurira, Dean Norris, and Iain Armitage, together with The Creative Coalition, made a pit stop at the happy hour before the DNC to show support for environmental efforts and share their favorite environmentalist quotes.

John Russell, TikTok influencer, advocates for the clean energy economy

John Russell is a social media influencer from West Virginia who shares his journalistic perspective on labor issues and the working class with his 186,000 TikTok followers. In his speech Thursday night, he spoke frankly on his cynicism towards the wealthy, scolding Washington DC for listening “to rich men demanding that we stick with dirty energy at any cost.” He called out Donald Trump for his “handouts” to Big Oil companies, such as Trump’s efforts with oil companies to put $1 billion behind his campaign in exchange for favorable tax and regulatory decisions.

Ultimately, Russell’s speech implied environmental reform was most important for the working class people who are afflicted by the effects of climate change the most and advocated for policies and political conversations that prioritized their well-being.

U.S. Representative from Florida Maxwell Frost addresses the increase in natural disasters caused by climate change in his state

President Joe Biden, U.S. Representative Maxwell Frost from Florida, and Vice President Kamala Harris walking together. — *Photo Credit: Adam Schultz*

Born in 1997 Maxwell Frost made history by becoming the first member of Generation Z to serve in the United States Congress at just 25 years old. Fittingly, as a member of a generation that has consistently spoken out against the climate crisis as the most harrowing challenge facing the world today, Frost’s short but powerful speech was entirely focused on climate change and the need to act.

At the Democratic National Convention on Thursday, he proclaimed that the climate crisis was here, and the country needs to act on it now. Referencing the natural disasters such as floods and heat waves he has seen impact his community, Frost urges attendees at the DNC to recognize what Harris will be able to do to combat one of the greatest threats facing humanity.

“...I walked the streets of communities that have been forced to rebuild after hurricane flooding destroyed their homes. I heard the stories of immigrant farm workers made to work horrid conditions exacerbated by this crisis. And I felt the scorching record heat and felt that climate change can sometimes feel like an unstoppable force. But with our movement and with organizing and an administration that cares, we are making progress!”

U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland speaks on climate change in her DNC speech

Deb Haaland, U.S. Interior Secretary, next to a poster that says "our climate solution". — *Photo Credit: Deb Haaland, 2019*

Deb Haaland, the first Native American to serve as a cabinet secretary, remarked on Thursday that Kamala Harris would be the best candidate to fight climate change in The White House.

Haaland has a long history of pursuing environmental justice as a former U.S. Representative from New Mexico, and serves in the Department of the Interior while supporting the Green New Deal.

"An American president must lead the world in tackling climate change, we need a president who understands that assignment… Let me go back to the lesson I learned in the desert southwest: we all have a role in protecting our Earth for future generations, so let's all be fierce and let's make Kamala Harris the next President of the United States."

Kamala Harris briefly alludes to climate change in her acceptance speech

Kamala Harris walks onto the stage of the 2024 Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Chicago. — *Photo credit:* *Lorie Shaull*

In Kamala Harris’ 38-minute acceptance speech for the democratic nomination to become the next President of the United States, she mentions climate change very briefly, and only once, equating it to her domineering theme of “freedom” throughout the speech.

“In this election, many other fundamental freedoms are at stake. The freedom to live safe from gun violence—in our schools, communities, and places of worship. The freedom to love who you love openly and with pride. The freedom to breathe clean air, drink clean water, and live free from the pollution that fuels the climate crisis. And the freedom that unlocks all the others. The freedom to vote.”

Some environmentalists have expressed disappointment in how little attention was given to the climate crisis throughout the DNC. Nonetheless, many believe that Vice President Harris will continue to poll high on the issue of climate change. Especially for voters who are aware of Biden and Harris’ historical progress on climate policy with the passing of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), and Harris’ history as a California attorney general combating oil companies.

Takeaways

Those who tuned in to the Democratic National Convention in Chicago this week looking for deep conversations on climate change were likely disappointed. Instead, speakers at the DNC focused on what the majority of Americans said were the most important issues facing the country, including inflation/prices, immigration, healthcare, jobs, and abortion, with only 7% of voters saying climate change was their top issue in the 2024 general election.

Kamala Harris herself has stayed quiet about her political agenda and the actions she plans to take while in office, likely to avoid doubt or controversy that would hinder her ability to win against Donald Trump in November. She is expected to face these issues head-on in her first presidential debate against Trump on September 10.

While brief, the remarks made by leaders and influencers at the Chicago DNC on climate change were clear, honest, and self-evident. Climate change is not the most hot-button issue of the 2024 election, but voters can be confident that the Democratic Party holds great interest in enacting climate policy and protecting the future of the United States in that regard.