So, he wasn’t my first choice…or second, third, or fourth for that matter, but Joe Biden is now the guy for people prioritizing climate action.

And his climate plan just got way better. This is, in no small part, thanks to climate activists (like the Sunrise Movement), Varshini Prakash, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Catherine Flowers, and many others who helped to seriously level up Biden’s plan. Also, props to Biden for agreeing to form the Sanders-Biden climate policy task force and for making use of ideas from the likes of Jay Inslee’s climate plan, Elizabeth Warren’s climate plan, and the Green New Deal.

Though it still has flaws, Biden’s climate policy is now much closer to the science-based, justice-oriented plan we need.

In the words of Leah Stokes:

“It centers standards, investments and justice, targeting $2 trillion in government spending over 4 years.

On standards it targets:

1) 100% Clean Electricity and Energy Efficiency Standard by 2035 – VERY EXCITING!

2) A net-zero emissions standard for all new commercial buildings by 2030

3) Ramping up clean cars standards, particularly for buses”

Recommended reading:

• Leah Stokes’s excellent summary of the plan.
• Biden’s plan (long read).
• Biden’s recent speech on his vision for the country and how to build back better. Guess what? It was almost entirely about climate action. In other words, it kind of feels like Biden is running on climate now. Seriously, can you name another Biden policy? This plan is juicy and full of popular ideas…let’s just hope, and do what we can, to make sure he actually follows through and prioritizes it.
• Dr. Genevieve Guenther’s summary and evaluation of Biden’s speech.