National votes, local impacts: Five ways this election matters for Philly’s environment

The next presidential administration could keep or cut critical programs that benefit Philly.

Did you know that an estimated 13 million citizens care deeply about the environment but will skip the polls?

This staggering number comes from the Environmental Voter Project, an organization that’s already helped turn over 1.8 million environmentalists into dedicated voters. It shows just how powerful these voices can be when activated.

For Hilary Naiberk, a Philadelphian and advocate for environmental voting, the mission is personal. Hilary Naiberk started advocating for the environment out of concern for the next generation. She first got involved with national environmental voting campaigns, like the Environmental Voter Project, when she became a parent and started thinking about the world her children would inherit. For her, it’s about “needing to know that I’ve done enough to make their lives safe in the future.”

Like many Americans, Naiberk will vote in the upcoming national election next week on November 5th. She encourages others to do the same.

“I think it’s critical for Philadelphians to vote in this election if they haven’t done so already, for climate and environmental reasons. Because at all levels – presidential, senate, state – the decisions that are made at all levels will impact the quality of life and the health and safety of people in Philadelphia and Pennsylvania,” said Naiberk.

Think your vote doesn’t make a difference for the environment? On the federal level, the presidential race is critical for local policies and funding. Or, just take a look at this congressional map of Pennsylvania that shows how often representatives voted for or against pro-environment policies.

Here are 5 reasons your votes down the ballot matters in Philadelphia.

1. IRA funding fuels savings and local environmental justice

The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 is the largest investment in mitigating climate change and rising energy costs in the history of the U.S. Congress. Among the investments are opportunities for homeowners to take advantage of rebate programs to retrofit houses for energy efficiency. According to some reports, Pennsylvanians saved an average of $1,690 per household in 2023 through the IRA’s housing subsidies. This is a federally funded program that the next administration could choose to keep, change, or fully gut.

The IRA also funds efforts like the Community Change Grants Program, benefiting environmental justice communities. Local recipients include PowerCorpsPHL and the Tioga/Nicetown neighborhood.

2. EPA leadership and programs

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is a national regulatory body operating since the 1970s to protect Americans’ access to clean air, land, and water. The EPA has 10 regional offices responsible for programs within designated states and territories. The President appoints both the EPA Administrator and Regional Administrators, who manage programming and program initiatives.

Philadelphia falls into Region 3 (Mid-Atlantic), currently led by Regional Administrator Adam Ortiz. Recently, the EPA celebrated new grants for green school buses, a cleaner port, and clean air in Philadelphia public schools. EPA funding is determined by Congress and signed by the President.

3. Dirty Dozen candidates threaten PA’s resources

PA has two candidates who have made the League of Conservation Voters’ 2024 Dirty Dozen list at the state and federal levels: Pennsylvania State Representative for District 160, Craig Williams, and candidate for PA Senate, Dave McCormick. Former President Donald Trump tops the Dirty Dozen federal list due to his recent offers of tax breaks for oil companies, his failure to take action on PFAS, his attempts to gut clean water protections, and his rollback of over 125 environmental safeguards while in office.

The LCV’s Dirty Dozen lists 12 public officials who “have consistently sided against the environment and are a danger to our democracy” out of all 50 states. The less pro-climate representation of Pennsylvanians in the state and senate, the more danger is imposed on its natural resources.

4. RGGI participation may curb emissions

State officials have been torn for years over participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), a multi-state effort to curb carbon emissions. The initiative requires power plants in participating states to purchase allowances to produce carbon, with a cap on carbon emission totals. According to Spotlight PA, legal bills countering Pennsylvania’s participation in the RGGI have cost the state $4.2 million. Governor Shapiro introduced a state-based alternative called the Pennsylvania Climate Emission Reduction Act.

5. The fate of FEMA’s future funding impacts Philly’s storm readiness

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is the nation’s disaster preparedness, response, and recovery team. Climate change scientists predict more frequent natural disasters, including stronger storms and greater flooding in Philadelphia as the planet warms and sea levels rise. Those storms are also already wreaking havoc, as demonstrated by the unprecedented destruction seen in the southeast US during September’s Hurricane Helene, to which FEMA responded.

Meanwhile, Project 2025 – the Heritage Foundation’s guide for an incoming Republican administration – suggests “reducing the federal government’s share of local disaster relief contributions from 75% to 25%, privatizing flood insurance, terminating FEMA’s grants and raising the per capita threshold for providing FEMA public assistance,” according to PolitiFact.

Bottom line: Get to the polls on Tuesday!

“[Voting] not just about long-term thinking, but also short- to mid-term thinking about the impact that climate change has on people in Philadelphia today,” said Naiberk.

Polls are open in Pennsylvania from 7 AM to 8 PM on Tuesday, November 5th. Find your polling location and other ballot information here.

Cover photo by Reba Spike on Unsplash