The Climate Test 2.0
Our president-elect needs to be a real climate leader. That means selecting a cabinet and transition team that supports the tenets of a Green New Deal to create millions of good jobs that will transition us to the 100% renewable energy-powered economy we need; people who oppose climate-wrecking fossil fuel projects; and cabinet members who have refused to be in the pockets of big polluters.
See the criteria for cabinet picks and transition team members for the Biden-Harris administration—then, take action.
No one gets an A+ on our climate test just for admitting that the climate crisis is happening. Real climate leadership means real commitment to bold action. We’re grading the nominees on these 4 questions:
- Have they profited from fossil fuels?: Potential nominees who have accepted fossil fuel money cannot be trusted to hold that industry legally or financially accountable for the decades of climate harms inflicted on our air, water, or frontline communities. Recent polling from Data for Progress found that 61% of Democrats support the exclusion of fossil fuel lobbyists and representatives from serving in the federal government.
- Have they supported clean energy and climate justice?: It is not enough to be a backbencher, America needs leadership and strong voices from those who served in government and also supported legislation that moves us to a fossil fuel free future. Biden should not bring back former cabinet members who worked for dirty energy companies.
- Do they support keeping it in the ground?: The active opposition to destructive & extractive fossil fuel projects like pipelines, coal mining, or offshore drilling, is the sign of a true Climate Champion.
- Holding Fossil Fuel Companies Accountable: Biden should not bring in cabinet and transition team members who have worked for companies that have actively worked against the best interests of workers and the environment.
You can check out our research and tracking document for more information on how various cabinet picks and transition team members received their grade on each issue. If you have questions, concerns, or new information — or if you’re a nominee who thinks your score on an issue should be changed — feel free to reach out to us at [email protected].
Criteria |
Profited from Fossil Fuels? |
Supports Clean Energy or Climate Justice? |
Supports Keeping It In The Ground? |
Supports Holding Fossil Fuel Companies Accountable? |
Take Action! |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Joe Biden |
No politicians who have accepted campaign dollars from fossil fuel executives, PACs, or lobbyists. No nominees who served in a senior position or executive role at a fossil fuel company. No nominees who served in a senior position or executive role of a company that has extensive investments in fossil fuel companies or projects. |
 For current or former elected officials: President-elect Biden should choose nominees who have a record of supporting clean energy, embracing climate and environmental justice, ending fossil fuel subsidies and the extractive dirty fuels industry. It is not enough to be a backbencher, America needs leadership and strong voices from those who served in government and also supported legislation that moves us to a fossil fuel free future. Biden should not bring back former cabinet members who worked for dirty energy companies. For nominees from the private sector: Biden must choose nominees who have strong records of, or have expressed support for moving to a fossil free future. |
Nominees who have taken action to keep fossil fuels in the ground by opposing new coal, oil, and gas projects. The active opposition to destructive & extractive fossil fuel projects like pipelines, coal mining, or offshore drilling, is the sign of a true Climate Champion. |
Nominees who have a record of supporting corporate accountability. That means: For current or former officials and nominees from the private sector: President-elect Biden should choose nominees who have a record of opposing liability immunity for corporations, especially those in the fossil fuel sector. Biden should not bring in cabinet and transition team members who have worked for companies that have actively worked against the best interests of workers and the environment. Nominees should show support for the tenets of a just transition to a workers-first, 100% clean energy economy. |
Tweet at Vice President Biden |
Add Your Name: Our Next President Must Pass the Climate Test
Add your name if you agree: Our next president needs to be a real climate leader. That means supporting a Green New Deal to create millions of good jobs transitioning to the 100% renewable energy-powered economy we need, opposing climate-wrecking fossil fuel projects, and refusing to take big polluters’ money.
Want to Dive Deeper?
Polling on the Original 2020 Climate Test
In March 2019, 350 Action and progressive think tank Data for Progress worked with polling firm YouGov Blue to survey voters about the questions on our climate test. The results: there’s strong support for bold climate solutions. Read our memo for our findings and analysis.
Sources and research for Climate Test 2.0
How are we deciding how each nominee scores on The Climate Test 2.0? Check out our research and tracking document for sources and more information on where the nominees stand.
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