Varshini Prakash, co-founder and executive director of the Sunrise Movement, spoke with Amy Goodman on Biden’s climate action as of 2021 and what steps she believes the Biden-Harris Administration should take going forward to address the climate crisis. She appreciates the steps Biden had already taken, such as re-entering the Paris Climate Agreement and canceling the Keystone XL pipeline, among other initiatives. However, Prakash emphasizes that these actions must continue, and that economic and climate justice must be centered in the conversation. At this stage of the crisis, with much of the immediate damage disproportionately affecting historically underserved communities, it is not enough to make up for the damage of previous administrations. We cannot afford to sit back now that we have a leader who is pushing for climate initiatives―we must continue to push for the future we want to see. A standout point was that Biden should keep his efforts going and stop the Dakota Access pipeline and Line 3, both sites of endured Indigenous resistance. Climate justice initiatives and sustainable economic development must be coupled going forward. Prakash believes that various movements coming together under the climate justice umbrella can help build support and pressure, and lead to unified change.
