In advance of next week’s first Democratic debate in Miami, we released a new poll on environmental and climate issues in Florida. The key takeaway: the majority of Florida voters (Republicans and Democrats!) believe environmental and climate issues are important, and even more support a move to a completely clean energy economy by 2050. The numbers are even higher among Florida Latinos and African Americans – 77% of Latinos and 74% of African Americans support moving to a completely clean energy economy by 2050. Check out the full results here. (Also, don’t miss this editorial from the Tampa Bay Times: “Democratic presidential debates should highlight climate change.”)

This week, the New York Times released an interactive “Meet the Candidates” video feature in which the candidates were asked a series of 18 questions, including “Do you think it’s possible for the next president to stop climate change?”

Elsewhere on the campaign trail, candidates are continuing to campaign on and highlight the need for climate action in a variety of settings.

Former HUD Secretary Julián Castro rolled out his People First Housing plan, part of which focused on aligning housing and community planning policy with climate goals.

Today I released part two of my People First Housing platform, which focuses on ensuring fairness in housing and aligning our housing policies with our climate goals. Check out my interview with @VelshiRuhle on my new plan. pic.twitter.com/m8mORxt2Y5

— Julián Castro (@JulianCastro) June 19, 2019

Senator Amy Klobuchar unveiled a plan for her first 100 days as president – the first item on her list: “Get the United States back in the International Climate Agreement on day one.”

New this AM: @amyklobuchar is out w/ 100+ things she plans to do in her first 100 days as POTUS.

It includes a bit of everything: climate change, voting rights, elex secy, lowering of Rx costs, veterans issues, $15 minimum wage, immigration, “and more!” https://t.co/aUNnySlrE6 pic.twitter.com/31sXKmNb7o

— Ali Vitali (@alivitali) June 18, 2019

Here are some additional climate highlights from the campaign trail this week:  

• Senator Michael Bennet released a comprehensive political reform plan, which he argues will make it easier for Congress to address climate change.
• At the Poor People’s Campaign forum, former Vice President Joe Biden acknowledged that “the poorest communities are hit worst by environmental degradation.”
• In an interview with NPR, Governor Steve Bullock talked about the need for climate action and highlighted the work he’s done to increase clean energy in Montana.
• Former Congressman John Delany called out President Trump’s false statements about climate change and clean air during an interview on CNN.
• In an interview on NBC Nightly News, Governor Jay Inslee talked about his “big idea”: defeating the climate crisis.
• While campaigning in South Carolina, former Congressman Beto O’Rourke noted that low income and communities of color are “paying the price for climate change right now.”
• During an #AMA interview on Reddit, Senator Bernie Sanders was asked about his plan to combat climate change and responded that “this is a time for bold action.”
• Senator Elizabeth Warren talked about the connection between economic justice and climate change at the Poor People’s Campaign forum.

Also not to be missed from this week: Senator Brian Schatz urged all of the presidential candidates to make climate change a priority in an extended Twitter thread.

To the 24 Democrats running for president: Climate change is a planetary emergency, and voters know it.  In April a CNN poll found that climate change was the top issue for D’s, outranking gun safety and even health care. But what does it mean to prioritize climate change? 1/5

— Brian Schatz (@brianschatz) June 18, 2019

For more updates on what the candidates are saying and doing on climate change, check out changetheclimate2020.com.