BALTIMORE, MD – During a speech in Baltimore, Maryland, Vice President Kamala Harris made a statement regarding the potential benefits of reducing population in relation to improving air and water quality. The comment came as Harris was promoting the Biden administration’s green spending agenda and discussing the impact of climate change on communities.
Harris acknowledged that the climate crisis affects different communities in varying ways, with poor communities, rural communities, native communities, and communities of color often facing the harshest consequences and having limited resources for recovery.
She emphasized the need to invest in clean energy, electric vehicles, and other initiatives to address environmental challenges and ensure that all children have access to clean air and water.
The Vice President’s remarks were made during a speech at Coppin State University, where she announced $20 billion in funds from the Inflation Reduction Act allocated for green energy initiatives. The Environmental Protection Agency’s chief, Michael Regan, joined Harris during the speech, which also focused on the concept of environmental justice.
The $20 billion is sourced from the EPA’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund and will prioritize low-income and historically-disadvantaged areas, including rural and Native American localities. This aligns with President Joe Biden’s executive order from January 2021, which called for at least 40% of certain program benefits to be directed towards marginalized communities.
The Biden administration’s commitment to addressing environmental justice and promoting green energy initiatives underscores their dedication to equitable and sustainable solutions. However, it’s important to note that the Vice President’s comment about reducing population may have been a misstatement or taken out of context, as it is not a standard approach in environmental discussions.
As of now, the White House has not provided any additional comments regarding the Vice President’s statement and did not respond to requests to clarify her statement.