Climate change continues to be a top priority for candidates. Here’s what they were doing and saying this week on the campaign trail.
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) officially joined the race, ending her exploratory committee. In her announcement video, she calls out climate science deniers who “cloud truth” and expresses support for passing a Green New Deal. At a town hall on MSNBC in Michigan, Senator Gillibrand detailed how innovation in the auto industry can create jobs and reduce the pollution that fuels climate change.
.@SenGillibrand explains how the green new deal will help keep auto industry jobs in the United States #AllIn2020 #inners pic.twitter.com/KDLDYAwHAO
— All In w/Chris Hayes (@allinwithchris) March 19, 2019
Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) hosted a round table in California focused on climate change, noting that as president, she would have the U.S. rejoin the Paris Climate Agreement and re-establish the Clean Power Plan and Clean Car Standards. Senator Klobuchar added, “If we do nothing, we have major economic problems.”
Facilitated a roundtable discussion with presidential candidate @amyklobuchar on wildfires & #climatechange. #CA is on the frontlines of climate impacts and every presidential hopeful needs to spend time listening to our survivors, leaders, innovators, & changemakers. pic.twitter.com/UBtrl97DMq
— Mary Creasman (@MaryCreasman_) March 21, 2019
Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) participated in a CNN town hall in Mississippi, where she said “I believe in science. Climate change is real, it is man-made, and we are running out of time.” Senator Warren went on to discuss her support for a Green New Deal and sustainable infrastructure, and she continued to bring up climate change at other campaigns stops in Mississippi and Alabama.
Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) stressed the need for climate action at a campaign event in Nevada, congratulating Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak for joining the U.S. Climate Alliance. He also pushed back on EPA Administrator Wheeler’s claim that climate change is not an urgent threat.
As I said in Henderson yesterday: to stop climate change, the U.S. must lead the world in transforming our energy system away from fossil fuels to sustainable energy.
I’m glad to see @GovSisolak & @NVDems adding Nevada to the @USClimate Alliance. https://t.co/xStIJvKGOw
— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) March 17, 2019
Former Representative Beto O’Rourke (D-TX) campaigned on tackling the climate crisis at stops in Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New Hampshire. At one event Pennsylvania, his commitment to climate action earned the “the biggest cheers.”
“O’Rourke spoke about reforming the justice system, ending prohibition on marijuana charges, ensuring universal health care & making those implicated in the opioids crisis accountable. He received the biggest cheers for promising action on climate change” https://t.co/UCRvn5Ef2c
— Beto O’Rourke (@BetoORourke) March 20, 2019
Governor Jay Inslee (D-WA) called out President Trump’s lack of action on climate change, saying, “We have bold leadership in many, many places. It would be helpful if we had it from the administration.” Governor Inslee has made climate change his number one priority in his campaign and many voters on the trail agree.
Solid crowd here in Bedford, NH for @JayInslee. Several in the room tell me climate change is a top – if not the top – priority for them in 2020. pic.twitter.com/xOCqDJiPgg
— Ali Vitali (@alivitali) March 16, 2019
Climate change came up a few times during former Governor John Hickenlooper (D-CO)’s town hall on CNN in Georgia, including when he spoke about working with environmental groups and the oil and gas industry on methane standards. Colorado Public Radio noted that Hickenlooper shared “concern that climate change will disproportionately affect people of color as well as those from low-income communities.”
Hickenlooper, under pressure from progressives, defends his record on oil and gas regulations https://t.co/sMqJU6kBtk #CNNTownHall pic.twitter.com/CII6oX1TiE
— CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) March 21, 2019
Senator Kamala Harris (D-CA) tweeted in support of the Youth Climate Strike last Friday.
To everyone participating in the Youth Climate Strike: I see you and I am with you. I am fighting for you and your future. You are inspiring millions to rise up and preserve our planet. Thank you for taking on a tough fight.
— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) March 15, 2019
Representative Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI) mentioned the need for climate action at a stop in California and tweeted that we should prioritize clean energy, among other things.
We need healthcare, education, clean energy, safe roads & bridges. We do not need new space weapons. We need leaders who put #ServiceBeforeSelf to address the needs of the American people with a #PeaceDividend rather than pursuing a new arms race.https://t.co/qjkM6h1GOe
— Tulsi Gabbard (@TulsiGabbard) March 19, 2019
Former Representative John Delaney (D-MD) has been speaking and writing about his plans to tackle climate change, including a carbon tax-dividend and additional actions to “achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.” Check out his recent op-eds in The Hill and The Portsmouth Herald.
We need to be honest about the threat of climate change & about how our country can address that threat. We can achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 by working together to pass effective bipartisan solutions that put our working families first. https://t.co/4H2tpLcF5p
— John Delaney (@JohnDelaney) March 15, 2019
In Texas, Former HUD Secretary Julián Castro (D-TX) continued to campaign on his commitment to re-joining the Paris Climate Agreement on day one as president.
.@JulianCastro tells folks here he supports Medicare for All, justice & bail reform. He also says the U.S. doesn’t have to choose b/w border security & compassion. He says if elected, he’d recommit to Paris Climate Accord on day one. @CBSDFW pic.twitter.com/qzstCynjri
— Jack Fink (@cbs11jack) March 20, 2019
On Fox News Sunday, Mayor Pete Buttigieg (D-IN) made the case for aggressive and immediate action on climate change and highlighted the opportunities to create jobs in a green economy.
.@PeteButtigieg: “If we don’t act aggressively and immediately on climate, it’s not going to be a pretty picture…This timetable isn’t being set in Congress. It’s being set by reality. It’s being set by science. And it’s going to hit.: #FNS pic.twitter.com/h4YdELqoNY
— FoxNewsSunday (@FoxNewsSunday) March 17, 2019
Senator Cory Booker (D- NJ) appeared on Pod Save America, where he talked about how climate change threatens our national security and it can motivate young people to vote. On Twitter, he also called for addressing climate change and fixing our infrastructure in response to historic flooding in the Midwest.
The historic flooding in the Midwest is heartbreaking—homes destroyed, entire farms wiped out—and further proof that we need to fix our nation’s infrastructure & address climate change. Praying for all who are affected. https://t.co/7fYTScxSU2
— Cory Booker (@CoryBooker) March 21, 2019