Environmental Defense Action Fund, the campaign arm of the Environmental Defense Fund, announced this week it would be launching a Texas political action committee to elect pro-climate candidates.
The move comes after the Supreme Court declared war on the environment and limited the Environmental Protection Agency’s ability to regulate and curb emissions and greenhouse gasses.
“Texas lags most states on pollution metrics, but we’re also a hub of innovation and leadership. Climate and environmental solutions that work in Texas will reverberate across the nation and worldwide,” Colin Leyden, Texas political director for EDF Action said in a statement.
“Environmental voters need a voice in the electoral process — we can’t sit on the sidelines,” Leyden said.
The EDF Action Texas PAC plans to begin helping pro-climate candidates up and down the ballot, for federal, state and local offices in the 2022 election and beyond.
EDF has previously committed hundreds of thousands of dollars to Texas, including airing ads to pressure lawmakers like Henry Cuellar to go big on climate change, or spending money on mailers and digital campaigns to support Democrats running in swing districts.
Fernando covers Texas politics and government at the Texas Signal. Before joining the Signal, Fernando spent two years at the Houston Chronicle and previously interned at Houston’s NPR station News 88.7. He is a graduate of the University of Houston, Jack J. Valenti School of Communication, and enjoys reading, highlighting things, and arguing on social media. You can follow him on Twitter at @fernramirez93 or email at fernando@texassignal.com
