On Tuesday, July 14, former Vice President Joe Biden announced a new plan to spend $2 trillion over four years to combat climate change and boost economic growth by investing in clean energy and infrastructure.

During the primaries, Biden’s primary climate objective was having a 100% clean energy economy and be carbon neutral no later than 2050. He also proposed banning new oil and gas permits on public lands and waters and ending subsidies on fossil fuels. Biden has a long history fighting climate change, from introducing the first climate change bill in the Senate to leading climate initiatives under President Obama. However, progressives and climate activists had taken issue with Biden’s hesitation on the Green New Deal and his plan to limit future fracking, rather than ban it altogether.

Biden’s announcement outlines a more ambitious approach to developing clean energy. It calls for $2 trillion in spending over four years rather than the $1.7 trillion over ten years which the campaign previously proposed. Biden’s new climate plan comes days after a joint task force formed by Biden and Senator Sanders released their climate recommendations. The Unity Task Force on climate change was led by former Secretary of State John Kerry and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez as well as other environmental advocates.

Similar to the task force’s recommendations, Biden’s new plan aims to achieve a carbon pollution-free power sector by 2035, to upgrade 4 million buildings over four years to increase energy efficiency, and to shift major cities toward public transportation.

Biden intends to invest in sustainable jobs, creating “millions of good, union jobs rebuilding America’s crumbling infrastructure” and “jobs in climate-smart agriculture, resilience, and conservation.” His plan does not mention banning coal or fracking, instead encouraging more energy-efficient vehicles, public transport, and power plants.

His plan also includes a portion dedicated to environmental justice which was a critical part of the task force’s recommendations. Biden plans to give 40% of the overall benefits from his clean energy investments to disadvantaged communities and work to eliminate water and air pollution in communities of color and low-income communities. He aims to create a Climate Equity Task Force to directly work with community leaders of vulnerable minority communities and tribal nations, directing federal funds to combat the effects of climate change in their communities.

“If I have the honor of being elected president, we’re not just going to tinker around the edges. We’re going to make historic investments that will seize the opportunity and meet this moment in history,” Biden said. He continued, “These aren’t pie in the sky dreams. These are actionable policies that we can get to work on right away.”

Read more of news related Democratic climate plans, including the recent $1.5 trillion House Green Infrastructure Bill to combat climate change, House Democrats’ Climate Plan, why climate change is a top priority for young voters, and our coverage of the Green New Deal.

Sign this petition to encourage Joe Biden to take a stand against the fossil fuel industry and end fracking if he is elected as President!

For more Animal, Earth, Life, Vegan Food, Health, and Recipe content published daily, subscribe to the One Green Planet Newsletter! Also, don’t forget to download the Food Monster App on iTunes — with over 15,000 delicious recipes it is the largest meatless, vegan, and allergy-friendly recipe resource to help reduce your environmental footprint, save animals and get healthy!

Lastly, being publicly-funded gives us a greater chance to continue providing you with high-quality content. Please consider supporting us by donating!