With CNN hosting back-to-back town hall discussions on the topic of climate change on Wednesday night, multiple Democratic candidates have unveiled their plans for tackling the ongoing climate crisis. The network is scheduled to air interviews with 10 Democratic candidates and notable CNN correspondents, like Wolf Blitzer, Anderson Cooper and more.
The Democratic candidates scheduled to appear at the town hall discussions are Former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julián Castro, Entrepreneur Andrew Yang, Former Vice President Joe Biden, South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg, Former Rep. Beto O'Rourke and Sens. Kamala Harris, Amy Klobuchar, Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren and Cory Booker.
According to a CNN poll, which was conducted in late April, 96% of Democrats favored taking aggressive action to slow the effects of climate change. This type of action was cited in a United Nations report, which called on world governments to take "rapid, far-reaching and unprecedented changes in all aspects of society". The report also showed that global temperatures could rise 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels by as early as 2030.
Biden joined his 2020 opponents in supporting the United States' rejoining of the Paris Climate Accord, a sweeping multi-national climate agreement that President Donald Trump left early in his administration.
But Sanders' plan, with its stated goal of reaching 100% renewable energy for electricity and transportation by 2030, is the only one of the candidates' plans that meets the timetable laid out by the United Nations group in the report.
"Climate change cannot only be addressed by the United States. It is a global issue," Sanders said at a campaign rally, according to CNN. "But my promise to you is, instead of ignoring this issue as Trump does, I will help lead the world in bringing countries together to address the issue."
Warren worked closely with former Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, who, before dropping out of the presidential race in August, centered much of his campaign around the topic of climate change. Inslee reportedly spoke with Warren about her plan and convinced her to take on portions of his detailed proposal. Castro has also touted his work with Inslee on the topic.
Warren's plan includes reaching for zero-carbon emissions on commercial and residential buildings by 2028 and zero-carbon emissions on new light-duty passenger vehicles, medium-duty trucks and all buses by 2030.
Harris is planning to lead America to a carbon-neutral economy by 2045, leaning toward the Climate Equity Act, legislation that she and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez announced in July.
The town hall discussions are scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. ET, with each candidate having 40 minutes to answer questions from CNN reporters and a studio audience.
