Sustainability Wins in the 2020 Election
Image credit: NBC
The Associated Press has finally confirmed most results from the 2020 election. It was a wild ride, but we've made it. In this article, I outline the most significant sustainability wins across the United States.
state-level results
DENVER BALLOT MEASURE 2A PASSED!
In Denver, Ballot Measure 2A asked voters if the city should introduce a 0.25% increase in sales tax to fund climate-related programs. Nearly two-thirds of voters voted to pass this measure! Yay!
With the increased taxpayer money, the city will expand job training in the renewable energy sector, provide more energy-efficient transportation options, create community climate adaptation and resiliency groups, and invest in more green infrastructure.
The city will prioritize funding communities of color, under-resourced communities and communities most vulnerable to climate change, with 50% of the revenue going directly to these communities. Policymakers expect this tax to bring in $40 million annually.
COLORADO PROPOSITION 114 PASSED!
Colorado's Proposition 114 asked voters whether or not gray wolves should be reintroduced to areas of the state west of the continental divide. Gray wolves lived in this area before European settlers eradicated them to protect livestock. In recent history, wildlife experts have successfully reintroduced gray wolves in Idaho, Montana and Yellowstone National Park.
Those who supported the proposition argued that reintroducing wolves would benefit the ecosystem by balancing other big game populations. As a result of this vote, the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission will create a plan to complete the reintroduction of gray wolves by the end of 2023. More sustainable ecosystems are on their way!
NEVADA QUESTION 6 PASSED!
Nevada's Question 6 asked voters whether or not the state should require electricity providers to source at least 50% of energy from renewable sources by 2030.
Nevada voters needed to approve this proposed amendment in two even-numbered election years to add it to the state Constitution. In 2018, 59% of voters supported Question 6. This year, 57% of voters supported Question 6, so it's headed to the Constitution!
As a result, the state will gradually increase the required renewable energy percentage from 2022 to 2030. This change will create clean energy jobs and decrease fossil fuel pollution.
AUSTIN PROPOSAL B PASSED!
In Austin, Texas, Proposal B asked voters if the city should allocate $460 million of general obligation bonds to improving the city's transportation. Nearly 60% of voters supported this Proposal on their 2020 ballots.
With this money, the city plans to build and repair sidewalks (while expanding Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance! Big yay!), construct urban trails, modernize bikeways, increase safety measures, improve drainage and more. These changes will make the city more pedestrian-friendly and decrease reliance on cars.
SENATORS, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
As I mentioned in Sustainability on the Ballot 2020, Democrat and Green Party representatives tend to favor more stringent environmental regulation, while Republican and Libertarian representatives tend to support more hands-off approaches to environmental issues.
This election saw Democrats hold onto their majority in the House of Representatives, which is a win for sustainability. In the Senate, the majority party has yet to be determined. Currently, Democrats hold 48 seats, while Republicans hold 49 seats.
The two remaining uncalled Senate seats are in Georgia, where both races resulted in ties. Voters will determine these races in runoff elections in January (pst! runoff elections are two-candidate redo elections to break ties).
If Democrats win these two seats, the Senate seats will be evenly split between parties. However, in this scenario, Vice President Kamala Harris (a Democrat) would serve as the tiebreaker. So in effect, Democrats would have control of the presidency AND both houses of Congress. This would make it super easy to pass stricter environmental policies in the U.S.
Keep in mind that federal policy is not the only way to make our nation more sustainable. Local policies can be super effective too! To find out the results of local elections near you, visit your state's election website.
BOTTOM LINE: DEMOCRATS KEPT CONTROL OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND STILL HOPE TO GET AN EVEN SPLIT IN THE SENATE.
federal race
JOE BIDEN AND KAMALA HARRIS WON!
Joe Biden will serve as 46th president of the United States of America alongside Vice President Kamala Harris. This result marks some major social sustainability milestones: Kamala Harris will be the first female AND the first Black and South Asian person to be Vice President. The importance of this representation cannot be overstated. Minority women across the U.S. and the world can now look to Harris as an inspiration, standing on her shoulders as they embrace positions of power.
In addition to supporting social sustainability, Biden and Harris will also support environmental sustainability. They hope to create a carbon pollution-free electricity system by 2050, invest in sustainable infrastructure, work with coal-reliant communities to move away from fossil fuel consumption and fight for environmental justice across the U.S. The duo also plans to sign back onto the Paris Climate Agreement as soon as possible and become the sustainability leader our world needs.
BOTTOM LINE: JOE BIDEN AND KAMALA HARRIS HOPE TO PROMOTE SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY.
moving forward
Although the Democrat-led House, the potential for Democratic Senate control and the Biden-Harris White House seem to indicate a more sustainable future, we need to hold these representatives to their campaign promises. Once in office, our Democratic representatives may not fight for sustainable policies as fiercely as we would. On the other hand, some Republic representatives may surprise us with their drive for sustainability.
No matter who your representatives are, you need to continue pushing them to support sustainable policies. Luckily, we have the potential to advocate for sustainability every. single. day. We can call or write to our representatives, get involved in community-level politics and programs, and share sustainability resources and information. Don't let your political activity end today — use your voice to create change!