The climate vice president? What Tim Walz brings to the Harris ticket

illuminem summarizes for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on Grist or enjoy below:

🗞️ Driving the news: Vice President Kamala Harris has chosen Tim Walz, the Democratic governor of Minnesota, as her running mate following President Joe Biden's decision to withdraw from the race
• Walz, a progressive known for his coalition-building skills, brings significant state climate experience to the ticket

🔭 The context: Walz's tenure as governor saw ambitious climate actions, including a law mandating 100% clean electricity by 2040 in Minnesota
• He also signed bipartisan legislation to reform the clean energy permitting process, funded clean energy job training, approved clean transportation standards, and directed funds to replace lead water pipes

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Walz's climate leadership in Minnesota positions him as a valuable asset in continuing and expanding federal clean energy initiatives started by the Biden administration
• His experience could help in leveraging state-federal collaborations for effective climate action.

⏭️ What's next: As climate action increasingly shifts to the state level, Walz’s expertise will be crucial for Harris’s agenda
• His reputation and bipartisan approach might help navigate a potentially divided Congress to achieve climate goals

💬 One quote: “It’s not about banking political capital for the next election. It’s about burning political capital to improve lives,” said Tim Walz

📈 One stat: Walz has a 55% approval rating in his home state of Minnesota as of February

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