Biden-Harris victory is a win for our health, planet, our economy and our future

Ceres stands ready to work with new administration to build back better from Covid-19, advance a more equitable, just and sustainable future, and welcome the U.S. back into the global Paris Climate Agreement 

Ceres congratulates President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris on their historic win. We, along with our networks of hundreds of investors and companies, stand ready to work with the new administration to build back better from Covid-19, advance a more equitable, just and sustainable future, and welcome the U.S. back into the global Paris Agreement.

“Today’s election results are a win for our health, our planet, our economy, and our future,” said Mindy Lubber, Ceres CEO and President. “We now have a new President-elect and Vice President-elect that believe in science and facts, and that will bring bold new leadership and change. We look forward to the U.S. rejoining the Paris Climate Agreement and taking the necessary federal action to confront the global climate crisis. Climate change is the greatest human, environmental, economic and financial threat of our time -- and today is a new day in tackling this threat.”

“We now look forward to declaring, ‘We Are Back In’ the Paris Agreement, as one of the first steps the Biden administration plans to take to get us back on track,” added Lubber. As a co-founder of the We Are Still In coalition in 2017, Ceres has helped to mobilize nearly 4,000 leaders - including thousands of investors and companies - from across the country to keep our commitment to the landmark accord’s goals.

“Together, we will work urgently to achieve a net-zero emissions future and limit average global temperature rise to no more than 1.5 degrees Celsius. As the second largest greenhouse gas emitter in the world, the U.S. will need to cut emissions nearly in half by 2030 and reach net-zero by 2040, at least a decade sooner than our original goals, in order to make up for the lack of federal climate action by the Trump administration over the last four years. We also support President-elect Biden's commitment to require all Cabinet-level secretaries to take all appropriate steps to rapidly reduce U.S. emissions.”

“We know our federal policymakers can drive forward ambitious, bipartisan, equitable economy-wide climate solutions. We’ve seen state policymakers lead the way on so many fronts and, in turn, they have reaped the economic, health and social benefits and have created new clean energy jobs along the way,” Lubber added.

Just consider the last few years. North Carolina issued a clean energy plan aimed at achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, Nevada increased its renewable portfolio standard to 50% by 2030, aiming for 100% carbon-free by 2050, Colorado became the first state in the interior to adopt clean car standards for low- and zero-emission vehicles, and New Jersey adopted a groundbreaking environmental justice law requiring the state consider the cumulative impacts on overburdened communities when issuing permits for greenhouse gas emitting projects. And in July, 15 U.S. governors pledged to work together to deploy more zero-emission medium- and heavy-duty vehicles in their states—the largest multi-state collaboration on clean transportation in the nation.

“States are poised to continue this momentum, and we will continue to mobilize the largest institutional investors and Fortune 500 companies in key states and at the federal level to advocate for science-based climate action and policies,” added Lubber As just one example of the growing movement, last May, we brought together more than 300 businesses for Lead on Climate 2020 — the largest business-led advocacy day calling for climate action. And, the largest global investor engagement initiative, Climate Action 100+, of which Ceres is a founding partner, has grown to include investors with more than $47 trillion in assets.

“We are ready to scale ambition and advocate even more strongly in the months and years to come,” Lubber added. “There is no time to wait. And, policymakers at all levels of government must respond and come together to fast track the net-zero emissions transition that is already well underway.”

“Climate change is not partisan, nor is it political. It threatens every business of every size and every population in every state. If the Biden administration prioritizes climate action from the moment it takes office, the U.S. can restore climate leadership in the world and continue to make progress in realizing a just and inclusive economy with clean energy investment at its core.”

Ceres is a sustainability nonprofit organization working with the most influential investors and companies to build leadership and drive solutions throughout the economy. Through powerful networks and advocacy, Ceres tackles the world’s biggest sustainability challenges, including the climate crisis, water scarcity and pollution, and inequitable workplaces. For more information, visit ceres.org and follow @CeresNews.