Friend —
The idea that our planet is worth protecting isn’t a new one. But our plans to combat climate change should actually be centered around people. Because while climate change affects us all, it hurts low-income communities and communities of color first and worst.
The interconnected problems of poverty, systemic racism, and pollution demand urgent solutions. Those who benefit least from the industrial activities destroying our climate have, for too long, also suffered the most due to our dependence on fossil fuels. Tom’s plan will put all people and communities ahead of polluting corporations through a truly inclusive planning process — and ensure that we all have the necessary resources to support stronger, more resilient communities.
That’s what we mean when we talk about climate justice. This is something Tom has always cared very deeply about. He helped beat Big Oil to protect California’s landmark clean air laws, and he followed that up with clean energy wins for people living in Michigan and Nevada. In Oxnard, California, Tom helped local residents stop the construction of a polluting new natural gas plant in an environmentally-burdened coastal community with a large population of immigrants and people of color. This is the kind of people-centered work our next president needs to focus on.
Take a closer look at the climate plan today:
