Too often the U.S. political system interferes with the government’s ability to carry out the significant action required to address the climate crisis. The United States needs a healthy system of democracy — one that represents the will of the people — in order to combat climate change, which has emerged as a leading voting issue for Americans. This includes repairing the nation’s campaign finance system, which has allowed corporations and special interest groups — including big spenders from fossil fuel industries — to wield outsize influence in Washington. And it requires ensuring that communities of color and low-income communities, who often bear the brunt of environmental hazards, aren’t disenfranchised.
By Tim Lau. Brennan Center for Justice. July 1, 2021.
