Home Virginia Republicans get failing grade from Sierra Club on climate, environment and justice
Region/State

Virginia Republicans get failing grade from Sierra Club on climate, environment and justice

Crystal Graham

sierra club virginia chapter The Sierra Club Virginia chapter released their annual legislative scorecard, and not surprisingly, Republican legislators received a failing grade when it comes to energy policies, climate solutions, voting rights and environmental justice.

Sen. Creigh Deeds (D-25) received an “A” rating from the club on the 2022 Virginia Climate, Energy and Justice Scorecard. The Sierra Club Virginia chapter sets a high scoring standard for lawmakers to receive a top grade. Fifty-eight out of 140 legislators scored an “A” on this year’s scorecard.

Sen. Emmett Hanger (R-24), Del. John Avoli (R-20), Del. Tony Wilt (R-26), Del. Chris Runion (R-25) and Del. Ronnie Campbell (R-24) all receiving an “F” rating.

The annual scorecard is produced for constituents concerned about preserving Virginia’s environment and promoting environmental justice to hold their elected officials accountable.

“This scorecard empowers constituents to know if their representatives are taking the climate crisis seriously or are failing to meet the moment,” said Connor Kish, legislative and political director for the Sierra Club Virginia chapter. “With the Supreme Court decision to gut the EPA’s power to hold polluters accountable at the federal level, and continued Congressional in-action, state-level action is of paramount importance”

Unlike legislative sessions in recent years, Virginia did not pass any landmark environmental legislation in 2022.

“The scorecard shows that major attacks to key progress were defeated, but there is still room for improvement from our legislators. Our leaders can’t truly address the climate crisis without prioritizing impacted communities and people who have been over-burdened by polluters for too long. The most impacted communities are still waiting for action,” said Gustavo Angeles, environmental justice program manager for the Sierra Club Virginia chapter.

View the complete 2022 Virginia Climate, Energy and Justice Scorecard at https://vasierra.club/legscores2022.

Support AFP




Multimedia

 

Crystal Graham

Crystal Graham

A 1999 graduate of Virginia Tech, Crystal Graham has worked for 25 years as a reporter and editor for several Virginia publications, written a book, and garnered more than a dozen Virginia Press Association awards for writing and graphic design. She was the co-host of "Viewpoints," a weekly TV news show, and co-host of "Virginia Tonight," a nightly TV news show, both broadcast on PBS. Her work on "Virginia Tonight" earned her a national Telly award for excellence in television. You can reach her at [email protected]

Latest News

child vaccine
Virginia Politics

VDH on Trump order on MMR vaccines: He doesn’t know what he’s talking about

seth trimble unc basketball
Basketball

ACC Basketball: UNC alum Seth Trimble taking ‘extra year’ to Louisville

UNC Basketball alum Seth Trimble, who played in the NBA Summer League last month, and has seen that the market for his services at the next level isn’t there, will try his hand at going back to college for another year, but not at UNC.

sting aew retirement
Etc.

We never got Sting-Undertaker: What other wrestling matches were we robbed of?

The item from last week about The Undertaker saying that Vince McMahon was the reason we didn’t get the all-time dream match pitting Sting and ‘Taker got me to thinking on the topic of, dream matches that we never got, for various and sundry reasons.

airplane in sky
Trump's America

Trump leaves press, staffers, military on Air Force One to die so he can fly in peace

voter at election polling place
Virginia Politics

Spanberger: We need poll workers for Election Day, now more than ever

uva football xavier brown
Football

UVA Football: Virginia has a lot of talent at tailback, which is good for the long haul

John Franklin Summers
Local

Waynesboro man faces multiple child sex charges in Orange County