Change the Climate 2020

LCV Statement on CNN’s Prime Time Presidential Climate Town Hall

Sep 5, 2019

Contact: Emily Samsel, emily_samsel@lcv.org, 202-454-4573

Washington, D.C. — For the first time in history, ten leading Democratic presidential candidates gathered in prime time tonight to answer in-depth questions about how they would combat the climate crisis and mitigate climate impacts.

“Tonight’s historic town hall required presidential candidates to look voters impacted by climate change directly in the eye and tell them what they would or would not do to combat the crisis. We need more opportunities like this,” said Tiernan Sittenfeld, LCV SVP of Government Affairs. “It was encouraging to hear about so many ambitious plans for immediate action on climate that will build a more just, equitable and sustainable society. We look forward to continued serious and substantive discussions of climate solutions as the presidential campaign goes on and hope every media outlet will include communities most impacted by the climate crisis and those suffering disproportionately from exposure to toxic pollution in their discussions.”

Communities across the United States are experiencing the devastating impacts of climate change first hand and tonight’s in-person and remote audience was a reflection of that. The audience we heard from included a North Carolina resident in the path of Hurricane Dorian, a Brooklyn nurse witnessing environmental racism as his patients from low income communities of color suffer from pollution related chronic illness, a survivor of the Camp Fire in Paradise, CA, a mother who lost her child in Superstorm Sandy, a member of the Biloxi-Chitimacha-Choctaw tribe from southern Louisiana dubbed the United States’ first ‘climate refugees,’ and dozens of advocates of all ages with personal stories—all united by the need to act on climate.

The League of Conservation Voters (LCV) highlighted standout moments on Twitter throughout the evening.

LCV was specifically watching for the town halls to address eight key topic areas ranging from international leadership on climate to pursuing the most just, equitable transition to a clean energy economy, all of which came up multiple times throughout the evening.

LCV is tracking the Democratic primary candidates’ statements and positions on climate throughout the primary at ChangetheClimate2020.com.

 

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