Kamala Harris’s vice presidential pick probably won’t make a huge difference to the fate of the planet. That said, Tim Walz is better than many alternatives: He hasn’t been actively boosting the oil and gas industry like his main competition, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro. He’s worked to pass some impressive climate and environmental measures and presided over an extraordinarily productive Democratic majority in Minnesota. He also seems like a pretty normal guy with a wholesome energy that contrasts starkly with his Republican counterpart’s weird subcultural obsessions.

The importance of Harris choosing Walz doesn’t have much to do with his record. Vice presidents who aren’t Dick Cheney don’t tend to heavily influence what the White House does, including on climate and energy matters. While climate advocates have widely praised Walz’s selection, it’s not at all obvious that he would go out of his way to make those........

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