Jonathon Berman, jonathon.berman@sierraclub.org
Washington, DC – Early this morning President Biden announced his re-election campaign.
In his first term in office, Biden has undertaken efforts to address the three main pillars driving the climate crisis: vehicles, methane, and, expectedly in the coming days, power plants, while protecting millions of acres of public lands and waters. In his “whole of government approach,” the President has upheld his commitment to center environmental justice and prioritized the communities that have shouldered the brunt of pollution for decades. Additionally, he has helped usher transformative climate and clean energy legislation through Congress, including the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), the Infrastructure and Investment Jobs Act (IIJA), and the Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors (CHIPS) and Science Act.
However, President Biden’s first term in office has seen the failure to clamp down on the leasing of public lands to the fossil fuel industry, granted approval of the “carbon bomb” Willow project, and supported the expansion of the LNG industry.
The Sierra Club endorsed President Biden in 2020. The organization has a lengthy and deliberate endorsement process that begins with its grassroots leaders across the country.
In response, Sierra Club Executive Director Ben Jealous released the following statement:
“Candidate Joe Biden proposed the most ambitious agenda on climate change, environmental justice, and land conservation. President Biden has delivered on the majority of these plans and has the opportunity to finish the job – including fixing past decisions such as the Willow project. The Sierra Club is eager to see him do so, and we will continue fighting across the country to ensure he does.
“Addressing the climate crisis does not allow for half measures or to take three steps forward, one step back. As the Sierra Club embarks on its endorsement process, we look forward to hearing from President Biden on his plans and agenda to finish the job to transition the country to a 100% clean energy economy that protects our wild spaces and creates a livable future for us all.”
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.