For IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 21, 2024
In response to President Biden stepping down, Elizabeth Bast, Oil Change U.S. Executive Director, said:
“With extreme storms, crushing heat, and severe droughts, Joe Biden’s decision to step down as the presidential nominee is a pivotal moment for climate action. While Biden entered the White House vowing to stop drilling on public lands, oil production surged to unprecedented levels under his presidency. This catastrophic increase will have lasting dangerous effects on our health and safety for many years to come.
“The Democratic National Convention must seize this opportunity to select a candidate with a proven climate record who will prioritize transitioning away from fossil fuels and address the climate crisis head-on. Our future hinges on this decision. Whether it is Kamala Harris or another candidate, we will hold their feet to the fire to ensure they are the climate president we desperately need. This is a chance to leave a lasting climate legacy and truly lead on the global stage.
“It shows leadership and courage for Biden to step down to avoid a Trump presidency. Another Trump term would spell disaster, especially for Black, Brown, and Indigenous communities, and strike a blow against our climate ambitions. A candidate backed by people power is our path forward to a sustainable future. As the world watches, U.S. climate leadership must mean stopping oil and gas expansion, ending fossil fuel subsidies, and leading a just transition.”
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Oil Change U.S. is a national organization focused on exposing the true costs of fossil fuels, supporting real climate leadership, and building a just, equitable, and renewable energy future in the United States. Oil Change U.S. is one of several organizations that coordinates the national No Fossil Fuel Money pledge and the national Green New Deal Champions campaign. For more information, please visit OilChangeUS.org.