Acknowledging and combating climate change is a foundational plank of the Democratic Party Platform
The 2020 elections are heating up, and some contenders are sharpening their swords while others prefer keeping their blades dull. Climate change draws a stark comparison between Republican and Democratic priorities for the United States. Republicans, who have not mustered the energy to update their Party Platform from 2016, only mention climate change as a proxy for attacking the opposition. Democrats, however, have embraced climate change as a core priority.
The current draft Democratic Party Platform for 2020 takes an aggressive stance on combating the climate crisis, recognizing climate change as an existential threat. An entire section is devoted to “COMBATING THE CLIMATE CRISIS AND PURSUING ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE.” The document identifies viable options to grow our economy while also combating climate change. We don’t have to choose between the two.
Key talking points
Reverse the Republican’s rollback of climate and environmental protections and rejoin the Paris Climate Agreement
Eliminate carbon pollution from power plants by 2035
Expand the development of solar and wind-generated electricity — install 500 million solar panels and 60,000 new wind turbines in the next five years
Reduce methane pollution through strong federal standards and programs supporting the repair and replacement of aging distribution systems
Set a goal of achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions in all new buildings by 2030
Support State’s Rights by affirming California’s right to set its own emission standards for cars and trucks
Transition America’s fleet of 500,000 school buses to zero-emission alternatives within five years
Support private business with incentives to install half a million EV charging stations across the country
Partner with farmers to make the American agriculture sector the first in the world to achieve net-zero emissions
Support communities in building zero-waste economies
Protect wildlife habitats and biodiversity, slow extinction rates, and grow America’s natural carbon sinks by conserving 30 percent of our lands and waters by 2030.
Establish the right of every American to breathe clean air, drink clean water, and live without fear of exposure to toxic waste
Integrate climate change into our foreign policy and national security strategies, and restore U.S. global climate leadership
Acknowledging and combating climate change is a foundational plank of the Democratic Party Platform. Their positions lie in stark contrast to the Republican Party Platform, where climate change is mentioned just seven times. The only actions Republicans proposed are: doing nothing, or actively working against any national solutions.
Choices are why we have elections. Look at the facts, read the platforms, examine the proposals, and be sure to vote for the future you want.
ArcheanWeb:
Methane turbocharges global warming (Source: ArcheanWeb) – https://archeanweb.com/2020/07/24/methane-turbocharges-global-warming/ Also:
Sources:
Democratic Party Platform 2020 Draft
Feature Image: Combating Climate Change – Logo By Steven Braeger – CC0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=61644820