Episode 017: Why Is Climate Policy Key In This Upcoming Election?

In this special episode, Shana sat down with Flora Cardoni. Flora is PennEnvironment's Field Director, in this role, she oversees much of PennEnvironment’s climate and grassroots organizing work, directing staff and mobilizing volunteers around the state to fight climate change and promote clean energy, clean up our air and water, eliminate single-use plastics, and hold big polluters accountable in Pennsylvania. Together, over these last few years, Shana and Flora have also worked together organizing around climate change and key environmental issues here in Southeastern, Pennsylvania, and other parts of the state. 

This week, Shana talked with Flora about what climate and environmental policy looks like here in Pennsylvania and the complex issues surrounding them. They also talked about how hydraulic fracturing aka fracking has plagued our state not just by destroying our land but also infiltrating into our commonwealth's political structure. Flora and Shana discussed how the fossil fuel industry has been behind politicians producing bad bills that cost taxers money, jobs, and a healthy environment. Flora reviewed some of the pro-environmental bills that PennEnvironment has advocated for these last few years. She also gave an update on how these bills, along with other pro-environmental bills are doing in the Pennsylvania legislature. 

Later on, in the episode, they shifted gears to talk about climate policy at the national and international scale. Shana and Flora discussed the current state of our nation's climate policies and the possible implications of this week's presidential election could have on legislation going forward. Shana also expressed how this election critically plays a role in the fate of the United States' role in the Paris Climate Agreement, because as of this Wednesday, November 4, 2020, the US will officially leave the accord. It is possible with another presidential administration that the US could rejoin the agreement without any disruptions to the negotiations. 

We all need to vote in this very important election on November 3rd, TOMORROW! Here in Pennsylvania, polls will be open on November 3rd, from 7 am-8 pm. If you still intend to vote by mail, your ballot MUST be deposited into an official ballot drop box ASAP. If you need more information about the election here in Pennsylvania, please visit the website votespa.com.