The climate crisis and clean water were two important issues featured in and around the second 2020 Democratic presidential primary debates hosted by CNN this week in Detroit. 

Before the debate, LCV and Michigan League of Conservation Voters joined hundreds of people at a rally to Make Detroit the Engine of the Green New Deal, led by local community members at the forefront of the environmental justice movement.

March to the Fox theatre! We must make tackling climate change a top priority in 2020! #frontlinedetroit #DemDebate2 pic.twitter.com/bPtLr9MdA2

— Michigan LCV (@MichiganLCV) July 30, 2019

LCV and the Michigan LCV also released new polling data showing that the majority of Michigan voters—77 percent—believe environmental and climate issues are important, and that there is strong support for moving to a completely clean energy economy by 2050. Michigan voters are also especially concerned about water quality—75 percent of voters say it is important for a candidate to commit to a strong investment in Michigan water structure. 

And candidates were paying attention. Over both nights of the second Democratic primary debate we saw 26 minutes devoted to the climate crisis and environmental issues with more questions asked by debate moderators and more in-depth conversation between candidates about their plans. And we’ll keep fighting for more as we prepare for the next debate as well as the CNN and MSNBC climate forums all coming up in September 

LCV has pulled some of the top quotes from the debates below. For more coverage on how climate played out in the debates and continues to be a top issue in this primary, check out ChangeTheClimate2020.com. 

Night 1

Steve Bullock: “We got to make sure to aid in those transition as we get to a carbon neutral world, which I think we can do by 2020.”

We need to take immediate action on climate change — but this cannot be yet another conversation disconnected from people’s lives. We cannot forget the union workers and communities who have been powering our country for generations. #DemDebate pic.twitter.com/I7e7QovV4g

— Steve Bullock (@GovernorBullock) July 31, 2019

Pete Buttigieg: “We can tell our kids that before we ran out of time, just before we ran out of time, in 2020, we did what it took to deliver a climate that we didn’t have to wonder if it could support us.”

We can do this, if and only if we are ready to walk away from what hasn’t worked with bold action.

If you’re with me, text PETE to 25859. #DemDebate pic.twitter.com/X4aQx5k3Xz

— Pete Buttigieg (@PeteButtigieg) July 31, 2019

John Delaney: “My plan, which gets us to net zero by 2050, which we absolutely have to do for our kids and our grandkids, will get us there.”

I’m serious about tackling climate change. It’s a big problem and it requires big solutions, and I have a plan to deal with it. pic.twitter.com/BiR1kvQP1F

— John Delaney (@JohnDelaney) July 31, 2019

John Hickenlooper: “We need every country working together if we’re going to really deal with climate change in a realistic way.”

We are dangerously close to irreversible climate damage. As the only scientist in this presidential race, I understand the gravity of our situation and the monumental effort it will take tackle climate change, nationally and globally. pic.twitter.com/7OowSODblb

— John Hickenlooper (@Hickenlooper) July 31, 2019

Amy Klobuchar: “I truly believe that if we’re going to move on infrastructure and climate change, you need a voice from the Heartlands.”

What happened in Flint can never happen again, and there are communities across the country facing significant challenges when it comes to accessing clean drinking water. We must invest in our water infrastructure now. #DemDebate

— Amy Klobuchar (@amyklobuchar) July 31, 2019

Beto O’Rourke: “I’ve listened to the scientists on this, and they’re very clear. We don’t have more than 10 years to get this right.”

“We don’t have more than ten years to get this right, and we won’t meet that challenge with half steps or half measures…We do it with everyone in this country. We bring everyone into the solution.”@BetoORourke on the urgent need to address climate change. #DemDebate pic.twitter.com/ywuBrFtuQf

— CAP Action (@CAPAction) July 31, 2019

Tim Ryan: “We need to convert our industrial agriculture system over to a sustainable and regenerative agriculture system that actually sequesters carbon into the soil.”

We can’t talk about climate change without talking about agriculture. We need to convert our industrial agriculture system over to a sustainable and regenerative agricultural system, that actually sequesters carbon into the soil. #DemDebate #Ryan2020 pic.twitter.com/mauqxf0V4R

— Tim Ryan (@TimRyan) July 31, 2019

Bernie Sanders: “Please don’t tell me that we cannot take on the fossil fuel industry. And nothing happens unless we do that.”

“I get a little tired of Democrats afraid of big ideas. Republicans are not afraid of big ideas. They can bail out the crooked on Wall Street, so please don’t tell me we can’t take on the fossil fuel industry, and *NOTHING HAPPENS UNLESS WE DO THAT*” @BernieSanders #GreenNewDeal pic.twitter.com/Tq8MonbdLA

— People for Bernie (@People4Bernie) July 31, 2019

Elizabeth Warren: “Climate crisis is the existential crisis for our world. It puts every living thing on this planet at risk.”

The climate crisis is the existential crisis of our time. @ewarren has a plan to invest $2 trillion in green research and manufacturing. We can fight climate change and create 1.2 million good new jobs here in America. #DemDebate pic.twitter.com/MMmzQEJCmN

— Team Warren (@TeamWarren) July 31, 2019

Marianne Williamson: “Communities of color and disadvantaged communities across the country are suffering from climate injustice.”

Williamson speaks on the Flint water crisis, saying, “Communities of color and disadvantaged communities across the country are suffering from climate injustice. We need to say it like it is: It’s bigger than Flint.” #DemDebate https://t.co/tRb2oWqBxl pic.twitter.com/5PEUlWp64y

— HuffPost (@HuffPost) July 31, 2019

Night 2

Michael Bennet: “Donald Trump should be the last #climate denier that’s ever in the White House.”

@MichaelBennet wants America to dump climate deniers #DemDebate pic.twitter.com/i2xKfIGlzP

— NowThis (@nowthisnews) August 1, 2019

Joe Biden: “We will end any subsidies for coal or any other fossil fuel. But we have to also engage the world while we’re doing it. We have to walk and chew gum at the same time.”

Gov. Jay Inslee challenged Joe Biden on climate change, saying he didn’t seem to understand the urgency: “The time is up. Our house is on fire. We have to stop using coal in 10 years and we need a president to do it or it won’t get done.” https://t.co/JzOoDj3G54 #DemDebate pic.twitter.com/Zm4nq5pcHL

— CNN Newsroom (@CNNnewsroom) August 1, 2019

Cory Booker: “[C]limate change is not a separate issue. It must be the issue and the lens with which we view every issue.”

“This problem didn’t start yesterday. Science didn’t become a reality yesterday…climate change is not a separate issue, it must be the issue and the lens with which we view every issue.” —@CoryBooker #DemDebate pic.twitter.com/g3qdE095Ul

— CAP Action (@CAPAction) August 1, 2019

Julian Castro: “I was back in Flint about six weeks ago, and I released a plan to invest $50 billion so that we remove lead as a major public health threat.”

CASTRO: ‘A lot of Americans don’t know that this is a major problem out there… I was back in Flint about 6 weeks ago.’ #DemDebate pic.twitter.com/t4c24MbAf2

— NowThis (@nowthisnews) August 1, 2019

Bill de Blasio: “We’ve declared the eradication of all lead, literally ending the notion of lead poisoning once and all as the goal of our administration, and we’re doing something about it.”

“There should be a federal mandate” to eradicate lead in Flint and every city in America, New York City Mayor @BilldeBlasio says.#DemDebate2 #FlintWaterCrisis

— Chad Livengood (@ChadLivengood) August 1, 2019

Tulsi Gabbard: “Growing up [in Hawaii], protecting our environment was not a political issue, it’s a way of life. It’s part of our culture.”

This is personal. I grew up in Hawaii which is the most remote island chain in the world. Protecting our environment is not a political issue, it’s a way of life. This is why I introduced OFF Act to transition to 100% renewable energy #DemDebate #TULSI2020 https://t.co/FuYOnsfrwA pic.twitter.com/QDVQKs7oOZ

— Tulsi Gabbard (@TulsiGabbard) August 1, 2019

Kirsten Gillibrand: “I will not only sign the Paris global climate accords, but I will lead a worldwide conversation about the urgency of this crisis.”

Step one: Clorox the Oval Office.
Step two: Restore US climate leadership and act to fight climate change.#DemDebate pic.twitter.com/UR4wq39NJC

— Kirsten Gillibrand (@SenGillibrand) August 1, 2019

Kamala Harris: “We must have and adopt a green new deal. On day one as president, I would re-enter us in the Paris agreement.”

Sen. Kamala Harris: “We must have and adopt a green new deal. On day one as president, I would re-enter us in the Paris agreement.” https://t.co/itYWLiETk9 #DemDebate pic.twitter.com/B7W5UzXKsT

— ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) August 1, 2019

Jay Inslee: “Climate change is not a singular issue…It is health. It is national security. It is our economy.”

“Climate change is not a singular issue…It is health. It is national security. It is our economy…It doesn’t matter what your zip code is [or] what your color is. You ought to have clean air and clean water in America.” —@JayInslee #DemDebate pic.twitter.com/cYx73HsMsj

— CAP Action (@CAPAction) August 1, 2019

Andrew Yang: “We need to do everything we can to start moving the climate in the right direction, but we also need to start moving our people to higher ground.”

Andrew Yang on climate change: “We are too late. We are ten years too late. We need to do everything we can to start moving the climate in the right direction, but we also need to start moving our people to higher ground.” https://t.co/OEBcyu6qfu #DemDebate pic.twitter.com/9KPZwSl6I5

— Nightline (@Nightline) August 1, 2019