Where candidates stand on climate change
The first 2020 Democratic presidential debates spent 15 minutes on climate change. That’s more than the candidates spoke about the issue during presidential debates for the 2016 election, but it’s much less than would satisfy some.
Jay Inslee, the governor of Washington state, has structured his presidential campaign with climate change as its central focus.
“This is a climate crisis, an emergency,” Inslee said at the first debate on June 26, 2019.
Many of the other candidates have plans to address climate change. Generally, the candidates support recommitting to the Paris climate agreement and carrying out a Green New Deal, at least in some form. But there are some exceptions.
Former Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper thinks the current Green New Deal, which includes guaranteeing a job to all Americans, would cause “needless tax increases” and “expansion of the federal government.”
The Democrats’ climate change proposals also splinter in terms of how they plan to cut emissions, specifically whether they support a tax on carbon.
As of this writing, candidates without specific or detailed climate change plans include Montana Gov. Steve Bullock, New York Mayor Bill de Blasio, former U.S. Housing and Urban Development Department Secretary Julián Castro, and billionaire investor and activist Tom Steyer.
Here are the key points of the climate change discussion among the Democratic field. Jennifer Francis, a senior scientist at Woods Hole Research Center. ice sheet split in two in 2018, and the glaciers here are signed a pledge to not take any contributions over $200 from oil, gas and coal industry executives, lobbyists and political action committees. Bullock, Hickenlooper and former Maryland Rep. John Delaney haven’t signed the pledge.