2020 Candidates Climate Change Policy Review
May 11, 2019I recently read the officially published climate change policy for every Democratic 2020 primary candidate. While I was largely disappointed, I’m still optimistic that there is something to be done about it. This is not an endorsement of any candidate, but an effort to steer the conversation on what we as citizens can do to help address climate change. That said:
TLDR; if you want climate change policy to play an important role in politics for the next four years then donate $1 each to John Delaney, Jay Inslee, Beto O’Rourke, and Andrew Yang, I’ll explain below. I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Donate to John Delaney (He actually has a generous re-donation program so check it out)
Let me start by saying that I (and the majority of climate scientists) believe that climate change is an existential threat. Now you probably know that, but it’s admittedly daunting and at times easy to forget that by “existential threat” what we mean is climate change threatens the continued existence of life on Earth. I believe it’s important to stop and ruminate on the gravity of this particular “hot button” issue, so long as it spurs action and not inaction. Now, with a mutual understanding that this is a conversation that is not about equality or justice or liberty or even a “clean environment” but rather all of the above and above all survival, lets dive in to the 2020 primary candidates official platforms on addressing climate change.
Rather than writing a review for each candidate I’ve grouped them based on the content of their officially published campaign positions. I’ve done this for a couple of reasons, it’s easier to write, it’s easier to read, and while it may seem to not sufficiently represent their values and positions I would argue that it’s in fact the only fair way to judge them because if a candidate is unwilling or unable to articulate their policy positions, how are they going to ever implement them.
If you support a candidate but aren’t impressed with their position in this list, then I’d strongly suggest you reach out to their campaign and ask them to further explain or to strengthen their policy.
The candidates can largely be grouped into five categories.
1) Campaign website did not include policies or key issues
While they may claim that they support or will implement certain policies they are either unable or unwilling to outline them. This suggests to me that they’re either too concerned with playing politics and not alienating anyone to commit to action, which is insufficient, or they haven’t yet identified their positions, which is inexcusable.
- Cory Booker (says he supports a Green New Deal, hasn’t published it)
- Pete Buttigieg
- Julian Castro
- Kamala Harris (says she supports a Green New Deal, hasn’t published it)
- John Hickenlooper
- Amy Klobuchar
- Tim Ryan
- Bill Weld (actually running on the Republican ticket, acknowledges climate change)
Now at this point some folks might be saying this is a stupid criteria to judge on so I ask that you stick with me till I get to what we can do about it.
2) Campaign website included policies or key issues, but did not include climate change
These candidates do outline their campaign priorities, but climate change doesn’t make their list. I found this fairly upsetting when you consider that these people will acknowledge it’s real but don’t seem that concerned. Even individuals who have made strong public statements did not include it as one of the most pressing issues we face. Honestly I was disappointed most by this camp.
- Kirsten Gillibrand (says she supports a Green New Deal, isn’t her key issue)
- Mike Gravel
- Eric Swalwell
- Elizabeth Warren (says she supports a Green New Deal, isn’t her key issue)
3) Campaign website listed climate change as a key issue, but was vague and included no clear actionable plan to address it
These candidates acknowledge that climate change is one of the biggest issues of their candidacy but are unable to identify what steps they would take to address it beyond centrist environmental platitudes. Some nested climate change under other primary issues, and one candidate went so far as to discuss the threat it poses to skiing and fly fishing, a remark so misguided that it sounds more like a conservative indictment of out of touch liberals than a call to action.
4) Campaign website listed climate change as a key issue with some actionable steps which either were or amounted to a Green New Deal
The Green New Deal has become a common talking point for Democratic candidates and none have yet denounced it (though some have not made their position clear). Even candidates like Gillibrand and Warren who did not see fit to mention climate change as a key issue have openly supported a Green New Deal. This is why while I support the notion of a Green New Deal I’m no longer impressed by politicians who pull out this buzz phrase without further details of how or to what extent it will implemented, including one of its most vocal advocates, Bernie Sanders. It’s not that they’re wrong to call for it, it’s that the notion of a Green New Deal frankly needs to be a baseline to a much more comprehensive strategy to not just building green infrastructure but actively working to combat climate change. With that said, the following candidates have either endorse a Green New Deal and gone little further, or simply laid out an action plan which essentially amounts to a Green New Deal.
- Tulsi Gabbard (more of a 3.5 since she only goes so far as to strictly regulate emissions)
- Seth Moulton
- Bernie Sanders
- Marianne Williamson
5) Campaign website identifies unique or uniquely aggressive and explicit steps to addressing climate change
Finally, some candidates have gone so far as to outline steps they would take, beyond a Green New Deal, and are trying to change the dialogue on climate change solutions to drive more aggressive change. These candidates are allowing their stance on climate change to heavily influence their campaign.
John Delaney:
https://www.johndelaney.com/issues/climate-change/
John Delaney’s website lists eighteen issues, three of which are “Climate Change,” “Climate Corps,” and “Negative Emissions Technologies.” Here he outlines implementing a carbon tax, re-joining the Paris Agreement, federal investment in renewables, green infrastructure, negative emissions technology to sequester carbon funded by ending fossil fuel subsidies, and the creation of a Climate Corps to support low‑income communities.
Jay Inslee:
Jay Inslee’s website does not have a section on important issues; however, his core campaign mission is one of addressing climate change and his website reflects this. He lays out an extensive action plan which includes reaching 100% clean electricity, 100% clean new vehicles, and 100% clean new buildings, investing in green jobs and infrastructure, fighting for environmental justice and economic inclusion, and ending fossil fuel subsidies.
Beto O’Rourke:
https://betoorourke.com/climate-change/
Beto O’Rourke details a four-step action plan that starts with “day one executive actions” to cut pollution and lead on climate change. Secondly, he outlines $5 trillion dollars over ten years dedicated to technology tax incentives, financing institutions, research including remediation and prevention, and grants for housing, transportation, public health, small businesses, national service, paid-training, farming, and economic diversification. Thirdly, guaranteeing Net-Zero Emissions by 2050 through strong legislation and enforcement. And finally, defending communities impacted by climate change by investing in pre-disaster mitigation, rebuilding stronger, maintaining ecosystems, and expanding federal crop insurance.
Andrew Yang:
https://www.yang2020.com/policies/climate-change/
Andrew Yang identifies three key policies, of which climate change is not included. However, he has also outlined in great detail 108 total policy positions which are all available on his website and which include “Combat Climate Change,” “Carbon Fee and Dividend,” and “Reduce Wildfires.” Here he discusses establishing a Global Geoengineering Institute to develop international solutions to carbon sequestration, additionally he’d discusses using Carbon Dividends to support his keystone policy of Universal Basic Income, a new proposal that is intended to overcome objections to a carbon tax (including objections voiced by some democratic candidates).
Take away and what you can do
I recognize that not everyone is going to be inspired by these last few candidates, that’s okay! I’ll be honest I hadn’t heard of most of them before I started researching, and that’s not okay. What I’ve come to realize is this, not all of these candidates are inspiring, frankly I’m not sure all of them would make good presidents, but they are shifting the conversation on climate change, they are considering new solutions, and they are outlining actionable steps to be taken. I don’t know yet whom I want to be in the White House, but I do know that I want whomever it is to be talking and really listening to these people, and I want the American public to be listening to them as well. So, here’s my proposal for how you can help.
Each candidate needs donations from 65,000 citizens to be able to participate in the primary debates. By donating $1 to the most progressive climate candidates, only $4 total, you can help to get them closer to having a platform to discuss their ideas and to hopefully steer the debate. I already have.
Donate to John Delaney (He actually has a generous re-donation program so check it out)
Then, if you have the time, you can read up on some of their ideas. I’ve included links to their campaign websites which would be a fine place to start. And then as the primaries continue and the field narrows you can start to get more involved with the candidates who are willing to step up and embrace the ideas you think will help get us where we need to be going. And finally, I’m not going to ask you to be a single-issue voter, instead I’m going to ask that whichever candidate you do support, you work to get them on board with this single issue. It is after all, an existential one.
