Joe Biden ran on the most ambitious environmental platform of a victorious presidential candidate ever. Reported at the beginning of his pursuit of the White House to be seeking a “middle ground” on the vexatious issue of climate change, he ended the campaign by proclaiming it not only “the No. 1 issue facing humanity” but “the No. 1 issue for me.” He even embraced the much-ridiculed Green New Deal, describing it as a “crucial framework” for confronting the challenge of climate change, and promised to “put the United States on an irreversible path to achieve net-zero emissions” by 2050.

Climate campaigners have long awaited the arrival of a champion in the White House. In Biden, they may have finally found their man. His victory, therefore, would seem to be their victory.